PICTURE OVERLOAD!

Well, we are a little overdue for a blog post.

We spent Thanksgiving in Rexburg with Braden's family. It was SO nice to feel at home, and to be around people we love. Of course, we participated in Black Friday shopping. Thanksgiving night we went out to Walmart. I always thought Rexburg was a small town, but Walmart was packed! While we were waiting for the DVD's, I noticed they had Cricut Expression's for only $120! And, it came with a $100 gift card to buy digital images off of cricut.com. Being the good man that he is, Braden told me I could get it as a graduation gift. So when it hit 6 pm and all of the sales officially started, Braden headed for the DVD's, and I grabbed a Cricut (they only had 6 for that price, but luckily everyone seemed more intent on other sales at the moment). I was also able to snag a cartridge for $20, which normally retails for $50. And let me say, I just LOVE my Cricut. It has helped me in Preschool, but even more so, I have been using it to make DIY projects. Here are some things I have made with the Cricut:

We hung this one on our front window along with
other Christmas decorations.

This was my Momma's Christmas present. I put a picture of her and my Dad
in there. I told Braden beforehand, "If she cries when she opens it,I'll know it's a good gift."

And she did :)

Which made me happy. And I might have cried a little
bit watching her cry. Props to Dad for capturing this moment :)

I think this is my most favorite thing I have made so far. I just bought a wooden plaque at Walmart,
used modge podge to put the scrapbook paper on, stained the edges, glued the letters and pictures
down, and put a layer of modge podge on top to seal everything. 

Speaking of crafty things, I also finished another Paint By Number! I'm only working part time, so I have a lot of time on my hands.

The colors in this one remind me so much of 

my Grandma Helen, who also loved to paint. (And

who I was named after.) 

For Christmas, Braden and I went to Meridian and spent the Holidays with my family. I just LOVE being home. Family is the best thing in the world, and I am so grateful we get to be together forever! One of the best things about being home was that we got to meet our twin nieces for the first time. Ah, they were just soooo precious! 

Look at her cute chubby cheeks!

Not to mention, they make the funniest faces.

And have cute smiles.

And already know how to wink.

And have the cutest bunny butts. 

Another plus of being in Meridian for Christmas is that we got to talk to my missionary brother! Elder Cameron Owen is serving in Oklahoma. 

My brother Jared and his wife Whitney spent Christmas
with Whitney's family. So, we had Jared and Whitney on the cell
phone and Cameron on the house phone - both on speaker - so they
could talk to each other as well!

For Braden's parents, this is the video you have been waiting for :)

In honor of Elder Owen out serving a mission, we had the missionaries over for dinner.

Becca and I are channeling our inner "Miranda". If you
understand that reference, let's be best friends :)

Here are some other highlights from Christmas.

Jeremy's face kills me. He really hates having his picture taken.

Please note, Becca's awkward hands. And again, Jeremy's love of
picture taking :)

Braden loves his fruit loops.

Just making good use of the nerf
guns Jeremy gave us for Christmas :)

In other news, I'M DONE WITH COLLEGE!!! I finished in December, just a week before Christmas. Because of having to transfer credits from BYU Independent Study over to my BYU-Idaho transcript, I won't 'officially' graduate until April. But, I don't have to take any more classes or homework or nothing! Just dealing with logistics. And it feels so good to be able to say I'm a college graduate. So now I'm searching hard core for another part time job to supplement the one I already have. 

Another piece of happy news, Braden and I are getting our own internet tomorrow!! We have been sharing with our neighbors two doors down, but the internet connection is not very strong, and we can mainly only access it in our bedroom. So needless to say, we are very excited!! The hard part now is deciding what to name our Wifi. Here are our top choices: 

1. Drop It Like It's HotSpot
2. It Hurts When IP
3. Bill Wi the Science Fi
4. Wi Believe I Can Fi
5. Hide Yo Kids Hide Yo WiFi
6. The LAN Before Time

So, cast your votes! (And to be honest, we won't use #2, we just thought it was funny :) )