Merry Christmas!

We had a great Christmas weekend, spent with our family and friends.

On the 23rd we went to Temple Square in Salt Lake City to look at the lights with our friends. 

They were beautiful, as usual. The orange lights are my absolute favorite.

Thank you, Miss Ashley Beyer for taking our picture. 

~~~

Christmas Eve was spent with Blake's family. 

Paula read her annual Christmas story. 

I love this tradition.

I loved my faux fur hat, jade necklace, and crock pot Blake's mom and step-dad Burnell gave me!

And Blake absolutely loved his new miter saw...even if it kind of freaks me out. 

Michael is growing into such a teenage heart throb, and Emaly is just as cute as ever! 

We love these kids to death.

We always have such good times together. 

P.S. Ema is absolutely hilarious. You should probably know this.

~~~

We did our little personal Christmas at home on Christmas Eve due to Blake having work Christmas Day.

Blake surprised me with a messenger bag that I have been wanting for a while now and a gorgeous new stainless steel 10-piece pots and pans set. 

I gave Blake a nice sweater and a Shop Vac. It's what he really wanted for some reason...A Vacuum. Weird. (-;

Indiana was given a giant bone from both of us. It was so funny. She was so overwhelmed with this huge gift that all she could do was pace throughout the house, not sure of the appropriate place to chew it. 

Silly dog.

Greg-go was given some little ferret toys, but he's a lazy-bum during the winter and wasn't very playful at all.

~~~

After Blake got off work on Christmas Day, we went to my parent's house for Christmas dinner, wine, and presents. 

Photo-Op with Brother D and Sarah! A once in a lifetime opportunity! (-;

My parents gave me a build-your-own recipe book and a new blender. Yay, smoothies!

Blake was excited to receive saw horses. I know he can't wait to start sawing all sorts of things.

Pops got a pocket-watch. Oh, joy!

(Yes..If you noticed...As if the loss of the Bears to the Packers wasn't brutal enough for Blake and I {to the point where we turned off the TV}....My dad had to SEAL IT by bringing out the Packers blanket. And Blake...like a champ...didn't even complain).
~~~
We hope your holidays were filled with as much love, joy, and laughter as ours.

We are officially ready for 2012!

-Jess.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Happy Birthday.

This past weekend we celebrated birthdays.

My mom's birthday, and my little nephew Keenan's very first birthday

I can't believe he is one!

This year has literally flown by.

He is so cute it kills me inside. 

If you could guarantee me a child as perfectly tempered as him and as perfectly beautiful as him...I'd be all over it.

Love me some baby Keenan. 

I just can't get enough of this kid.

-Jess.

"Remember You Are Friends."

Every bridal shower and bachelorette party typically holds the same structure. At some point in time, guests are told to give their advice to the bride. 

It seems the general theme for advice ends up surrounding the topic of fighting: "Don't go to bed angry." "Go to bed angry." "Pick and choose your battles." So, the list goes on. 

My go-to advice remains the same at all of these events: "Remember You Are Friends."

I've given this advice countless times, and it is truly something I strive to live and breathe in my own marriage. Blake is my friend. 

He was my friend long before the notion of marriage even appeared to us. 

He will always be my friend.

This past week I have been really hard on Blake. I don't know why, and I don't know where it came from. 

I will always be the first to admit that I can be a very difficult person to live with. I am demanding and meticulous. I can't imagine how exhausting this can be on a person, but Blake is amazing. 

This past week I have been hard on him, and he hasn't deserved one minute of it.

While walking out of school tonight I was greeted with a text message. 

It was from Blake: "Let me know when you are out of class, and I will make dinner for us."

I called him immediately to let him know I was on my home. 

I was really excited to see him. Today was such a long day, filled with early morning work and evening classes immediately after.

While driving home I found myself getting more and more anxious to spend time with him. I began weaving in and out of traffic, speeding, and butterflies were moving around in my stomach. 

I was so excited to come home.

Then I remembered my advice: "Remember You Are Friends."

As of late, I haven't been treating Blake like much of a friend. I've been treating him like a husband. 

Our conversations have been too formal: "The house needs this." "These bills need to be paid." "We need this." "We need that." 

Blah. Blah. Blah.

What I really want to do is just cuddle up under a blanket with him and watch a movie. 

I really just want to hang out with him.

And I'm really not sure what I am doing just sitting here writing about it.

Peace out, friends.

I'm gonna go chill with my best friend now.

Jess.

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Thanks.

This year I feel that I have so many things to be thankful for.

My husband. 

He is my best friend, and I can't imagine my life without him. He makes me happy. Truly happy. Happier than I ever thought possible.

My parents. 

My parents are the strongest most dedicated people I have ever met. They are so supportive of me and loving of all. They have been examples to me throughout my whole life, and they are the reason I strive so hard to live a successful and good life.

My sisters. 

These women are amazing. They are the epitome of strength.
Jeni--She has defied all odds throughout her entire life, and she is incredibly beautiful.
And Sarah--She is such a wonderful mother, friend, and beautiful person.
We may not be perfect, but we are loyal to one another, and I am so grateful for the family I was given.

The In-laws. 

My in-laws are great. I am so lucky to have such accepting and loving in-laws. We always have such a fun time together, and I have felt like part of the family since the moment I met them seven years ago.

My nieces and nephews. 

*Core*

*Emaly & Michael*

*Fatima & Rodney*

*Van & Keenan*
I love being an aunt. I have the smartest and most adorable nieces and nephews anyone could ever ask for. I love them all so much. They are so fun.

My life. 

I have been blessed. I have a good life, a beautiful home, an amazing husband, a loving family, an imperfect but good job, and an education. How did I get so lucky to be born in such fortunate circumstances?
I am grateful for the life I have been so selflessly given.

Blake and I spent Thanksgiving Day with his family at his mom's house. Our day was filled with good food, good drinks, and good company.

I went to work at 11:00PM for Black Friday. It was a super-long and hectic day, but I made it through and even found a few deals at the end of my shift. Blake woke up early, braved the cold and the crowds, and purchased a new washer and dryer for us since ours has had nearly enough.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. I hope you had a wonderful holiday.

-Jess.

P.S.--This song has been stuck in our heads all weekend. Enjoy.
Awolnation-"Sail"

Friday Steak Night.

I have a Good Housekeeping skillet recipe book that I adore.
I love taking the recipes and tweaking them ever-so-slightly. Tonight's steak recipe was so delish that I thought I would share. I also included instructions for making my Asparagus.

Enjoy!

~~~
Pan-Fried Steak with Spinach and Tomatoes
Serves: 4
1 large garlic clove, crushed
1 tsp grated lemon peel
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp olive oil
2 boneless beef top loin steaks (10 oz. each), trimmed
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 tsp cornstarch
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 bag (10 oz.) pre-washed spinach
*I substituted fresh garlic for 1 Tbs garlic powder since I was completely out. I also added fresh lemon juice and Worcestershire Sauce for an extra kick.*
~~~
1-In cup or small bowl, stir garlic, lemon peel, salt, and pepper (And 1/2 freshly squeezed lemon if you desire). Spread mixture on both sides of steaks.
2-In non-stick 12" skillet, heat oil over medium to medium-high heat until hot. Add steaks (as well as Worcestershire Sauce for a slight kick) and cook for medium-rare, 5-6 minutes per side, or until desired doneness (I cooked the steaks for 8 minutes each side over medium heat for a nice tender touch of pink in the middle). Transfer steaks to plate; keep warm (I find that it is best to cover with aluminum foil, or if you have a warming drawer you can transfer the steaks here).
3-In cup or small bowl, mix broth and cornstarch. To same skillet, add broth mixture, tomatoes, and spinach. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat and cook, stirring, until spinach wilts, 1 to 2 minutes. Cut steaks in half and serve with spinach mixture.
~~~
Asparagus
Serves: 4
1 bundle Asparagus
1/2 fresh lemon (sliced in half)
1 1/2 tsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
~~~
In a medium non-stick skillet, heat olive oil of medium-high heat. Add 1/2 bundle of Asparagus. Squirt 1/2 of lemon over top of Asparagus and sprinkle desired salt and pepper. Cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Cook remainder Asparagus.
~~~

Especially yummy with an ice-cold Blue Moon.

Easy and Delightful

-Jess.

The News.

Blake was offered a new position at the hospital this week. It will allow for more dinners together, sleeping in the same bed, and Xbox. 

We're both pretty joyful about it. 

Especially Blake. Even if he doesn't appear so.

I got my hair done this week.

Its colorful.

Different. A fun change.

As for Miss Indiana and Gregory.

They are as cute as ever.

-Jess.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com