A New Year

Christmas ended up being really great. It was different this year spending it between 2 families, but ended up working out really well. Christmas Eve Brandon and I slept at his parents house. His family celebrates each year with German traditions, such as lighting candles on the tree, a traditional dinner, singing songs and lots of games! The fun ended around 1:30AM just in time to get a little sleep before waking up early to drive up to Logan. Luckily, Brandon's twin and his wife were leaving the next morning so the 4 of us got up early and left. I was happy we made it in time to my parents house to open presents. The greatest part about everything was actually being able to spend time with Brandon! With his extremely busy schedule during a typical week we only get to see each other a few times for an hour here and an hour there. So, two full days was great!!! New Years he worked of course, but I was able to drive up to my parents cabin in Bear Lake and spend the night with my family. It was great because we all went skiing New Years Day!!

LAST weekend was also wonderful. Brandon and I got to go up to Logan and spend some time with my family. My little brother Ben went through the temple for the first time because next week he will be entering the MTC and leaving to serve a 2 year mission to Paraguay. We spent Friday and Saturday night at my parents house which was great!! I brought the Wii up and we ended up playing that thing for hours. ALSO, I got a new camera for my birthday!! Brandon and I picked it out at Best Buy. I am really excited about it because my old camera was 3 years old and kind of out of date. Technically, my BDAY isnt for another week, by my mom let me have it early :) Here are a few photos from it. I need to figure out how to use the red eye reduction. This camera is way more high tech than my last one, so it will take some learning. Of course my cute nephews were with us. Brandon taught Carter how to play Wii sports!

Cookie Decorating and More!

So, I was really bummed that my family decided to take off to Sun Valley, Idaho for the weekend because my plan was to come home and spend time with them!! Brandon and I had already decided to do Christmas Eve at his house which leaves a quick drive up to Logan Christmas day to see my family.
Anyway, I decided even though my parents took the kids up to Idaho, I would drive up to Hyrum and spend time with my sister and her family. I always love to see my nephews!!! They are so cute and I love spending time with them. I drove up Saturday morning and when I got to Kimber's house we made Christmas cookies! It was so much fun! Another simple fun tradition that makes the holiday meaningful. Carter had fun cutting shapes out and playing in the dough and I got to hold Caden a lot!!! Can't complain :) :) A bit later we went to a wedding reception and then met my little brother Matt for dinner at Cafe Sabor. Yummy mexican food.
During the holiday season I have realized how important family is!!!!! I am so thankful for my family and for the love and support they give me. How LUCKY I am! Wishing I was with them now~ Guess I will have to wait until Christmas day :) ~Kristin~

Gingerbread Party!

Ever since I moved to Salt Lake 2 years ago I have been able to join my cousins for the annual HILL Family gingerbread house decorating party. Its so much fun because even though I am nearly 26 years old, its still great to be a kid for a night and decorate a gingerbread house. My aunt always brings pizza and we make a party out of it. The party was on Thursday night and I almost didnt go because of the crazy snow storm we experienced!!! Unfortunately Brandon had to fly to Oklahoma for an inteview and couldn't come.

Unfortunately, I got my camera out too late when 1/2 the people already left, but I managed to get a photo before I left with some of my cousins. My house is the one in the very front. Great times :) I love the simple yet fun things that make this holiday season so much fun!!!
~Kristin~

Lots and Lots of TWO's

SO, I have been at my new job now for 7 weeks or so. I am really enjoying it and having so much fun! I get to work in all 6 of the school's classrooms with all different age groups. I also think I am learning a little bit about what it's like to be a mom. I can now understand why patience is hard after a long day, especially with 14 two year olds! YUP, thats right, 14. Today I had to chuckle when Amy and I opted to take our class on a walk instead of gearing them all up in snow gear to play on the playground. I can't tell you how draining and exhausting it is twice a day to direct 14 two year olds to change into snow pants, boots, coats, hats, and gloves and get them outside for their scheduled recess.
Anyway, our afternoon walk cracked me up! We put on boots and coats and then everyone piled outside for a walk. Amy had this neat rope contraption that had 14 loops for kids to hold onto. Each kid grapped a loop and we (a train of 2 teachers and 14 two's) took a 30 minute walk outside all connected together by a rope. The kids were loving singing songs together and being outside. I just had to chuckle as the kids were shouting out over and over, "Dinah wont you blow, Dinah wont you blow, Dinah wont you blow your horn..."
NEEDLESS TO SAY... I am always exhausted after a day of work, but it is SOOO worth it. Kids are the best. Just the cute little things they say, the hugs they give, the smiles they have make my day!!!
I am getting excited for this weekend and being able to actually spend the holiday with Brandon. Luckily, the hospital decided to give the poor kid a break and give him Christmas Eve and Day off!!! YAHOO! Brandon averages 80+ hours a week and thus far has worked every holiday, so I am very grateful. Being an intern is tough.
Thats it for now. Merry Christmas!!!!

Kristin

Thanksgiving and More...

I had a wonderful 4 day break!! Oh how I love having a normal job that allows me to spend the holidays with my family. What a wonderful thing!!! I will never forget last year!! Not only did I have to work, but I wasted waiting in line for 2 hours at the Little America for a Thanksgiving dinner that never happened because I had to go to work at 2pm. Enough said.

All of my brothers and sisters came to my moms house and we had a wonderful Thanksgiving day! Our dinner was perfect and we got to spend the rest of the day playing games, eating pie, taking naps, hanging out and of course watching Christmas Vacation!!! Friday morning out of tradition, my mom, sister and I got up at 4:45AM and joined the crazy shoppers all over time. Nowadays its more about the tradition moreso than the shopping deals. However, its something i dont like to miss :)

Poor Brandon had to work all during the break! He worked a 32 hour shift Friday/Saturday and then stayed up even after that to watch the Utah vs. BYU game. We are Utah fans and you can definitely say there was some serious dissapointment. Brandon was a good sport and only slept for 3 hours (after being up for 35 hours straight) before going to Enchanted with me. We both thought the movie was really cute! Its rare that we get to go out because of the busy schedule he has so we both enjoyed it a lot.

Anyway, I am very very thankful for all my blessings! I have the best family in the world and it was so great to see them and spend Thanksgiving with them this year. Now we get to listen to Christmas music and enjoy the wonderful Christmas season :)
Love,

Kristin

p.s. Here is the latest and greatest King Family photo!

Halloween!

I was able to drive up to Hyrum and spend Halloween at my sisters house! The weather was great and the drive wasn't so bad. I am always up for opportunities to be with my family, especially my 2 cute nephews! My sister Kimber made some wonderful homeade chili and bread that was so delicious!! What's funny is that my p

arents showed up a little later as Winnie the Pooh and Tigger! They had just come from their ward trunk or treat. How funny!!

Life lately has been a little crazy, but is starting to settle down. I am starting a new job Monday teaching! It was a long process to find the perfect place for me to teach, but I found one and can't wait to start! At first I get to work with all different age groups, but will probably end up full in with the preschool kids.

One bummer is that Brandon found out last week he has MONO. He had been sick for weeks and wasn't getting any better. I was getting really worried because at first we thought it was just the flu, but after 2 weeks of still feeling horrible he went into the doctor and tested for MONO. Ever since then he has been on a leave of absense at work staying at home trying to get better. Poor guy.

Anyway, that is about it! I can't believe it's already November and soon the major holidays will be here! What a fun time of the year.

Love,

Kristin

Wedding, Birthday Party, and much more!!!

It has been one crazy week and weekend! First of all, it was time for a change of careers for me. I had lived my glory days at Delta flying around the world for free for the last few years, but the graveyard schedule, lack of decent pay, and call center environment caught up with me. Guess its time to use my degree huh? I am really excited now to begin working with children again. I got a job teaching preschool and will actually be working normal hours!! YEAH!

As for this weekend, Brandon's twin got married. This is a huge deal for the Park family because there are 6 kids (youngest is 27) and before Friday only one had married, 9 years ago. SO, needless to say it was a huge celebration!!! The day was really nice and it was fun to meet lots of new family and friends. There was a luncheon at the J.S. Memorial building in Salt Lake, then a reception in Bountiful just after that. Congrats Charlton and Kimber, you guys looked amazing and so happy!

Whats funny is that Brandon's Grandpa was celebrating his 85th

birthday the very next night ALSO at the J.S. Memorial. So, two days in a row of celebrating/eating in the same building for different reasons. His Grandpa is one of my absolute favorite people I have ever met. I took a liking to him early on. He brought his young family over to the states from Germany years ago and slowly buy surely gave them a steady life in this country. Every time I see him he is always telling great stories of serving in war, starting out with nothing, raising his family, being happy, etc. What a wise wonderful 85 year old man! If only everyone had the chance to meet him you would understand what i am talking about.

Anyway, thats it for now!

~Kristin~