december :: according to my iphone pictures

goodbye 2012 :: hello 2013

Goodbye 2012, what a wonderful year!! Here are a few highlights that we won't forget.....

January :: The month where I was awarded a scholarship for the EXACT obscure amount of money I owed Idaho State University when all along it was my own "lost check in the mail". Funny story. And Cafe Rio opened and quickly became our favorite place to eat on a Friday night!



February :: Nic got a promotion at the Vein Center he was working at! We had our first Valentine's Day as a married couple and it was one of my favorite days we have ever spent together.



March :: My grandma came to visit Pocatello for the weekend! And we went to Boise and celebrated my niece Ava's 1st birthday!



April :: This month I wrote about my thoughts on being a teacher and my college experience.

May :: We celebrated our one year anniversary!



June :: We both celebrated our birthdays {Nic 25; Me 22}, mine was an extra-special one in Bear Lake. We went on a trip to Boise for my friend Angelina's baptism, a mission farewell for my friend Brooke, and to see my mom and brother! We also went through the most horrific 24 hours as we waited to find out if my mother-in-law lost her house in a huge fire {so blessed she didn't}.



July :: We spent 4th of July under the Pocatello sky watching fireworks on a blanket just the two of us. Nic got a second job promotion and I couldn't be more proud of him!! I took and passed my Praxis exam which is part my certification for teaching in the State of Idaho! I taught Science classes at the Museum of Natural History for two weeks and learned that I'm not cut out to be a middle school Science teacher. Our best friends had their first baby, Ari!



August :: I finally conquered my fear of yeast and learned out to make homemade pizza! I was the assistant girl's camp director for my church and took a group of 12-17 year old girls to Palisades, Idaho for a few days. Nic moved into his first grown-up office and hung that fancy Bachelor's diploma on the wall. I learned how to sew a pleated skirt. I started my last year of college, got to wear that name tag that says "Mrs. Williamson" making this whole teacher thing more official every day, and completed my semester of pre-student teaching in a fourth grade class at Chubbuck Elementary!



September :: We had a blast Labor Day weekend in Boise with my momma renting bikes for a ride to the downtown market and seeing the play Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at an outdoor theatre in the mountains. I sewed my very first table runner for Fall which turned out pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.



October :: I wrote a gushy post about my person. We carved pumpkins with our best friends, the Bradley's; ours a minion from Despicable Me and theirs a disco ball when lit. We dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Baker Man for Halloween and handed out treats in a muffin tin!



November :: I voted for the second time in my life. We spent Thanksgiving in Boise with my fam, some of which we hadn't seen in a year! And my dreams came true on Black Friday when I got my very first Nikon DSLR camera!



December :: We attempted to go on 12 dates of Christmas but really only made it half way, better luck next year! Went on a getaway weekend to Salt Lake City and saw the play Savior of the World to get us in the Christmas spirit. And I celebrated my first Christmas with my in-laws.

2012 was good to us but I have feeling 2013 will be even better! We are looking forward to both of us graduating and finally be done with school this year as well as our 2 year anniversary!! Hello 2013!

12 dates of Christmas {sixth}

On the sixth {and final} date of Christmas.....

We went on a getaway weekend to Salt Lake City! It was the first time we've really gone anywhere and stayed in a hotel since our honeymoon so I was really excited! On Friday night we saw a play called Savior of the World which was INCREDIBLE. It was the perfect way to remember the reason for the season. Saturday we spent pretty much the entire day drooling over the new City Creek Center mall. I've never seen so many name brand stores in my life! In the late afternoon - early evening we went to look at the beautiful temple lights. The statue of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus floating in the reflection pool with candles everywhere was by far my favorite part!! And now for the pictures...























These displays were hung in Macy's windows and were made entirely out of candy, it was amazing!





I'm definitely hoping we can do this again next year!

12 dates of Christmas {fifth}

On the fifth date of Christmas.....







We walked around downtown Pocatello to look at all the lights. It was freezing cold that night so we didn't last long before we were headed home to warm up with some hot chocolate haha but walks at night are kind of our thing in the summer time so we miss them lately. Ever since I have learned how to create bokeh with my new camera I've been obsessed with it, especially with all of the colorful Christmas lights! So don't worry, I narrowed it down to just one to include here. ;) I'm still working on creating it in the background with my subject in the foreground, like the one of Nic above ^. Except I underexposed his face. Definitely still learning! I"m going to miss all these pretty Christmas lights in the city when they are taken down in a few days.

Kissmas morning

My kissmas dreams came true when I was given the biggest kiss I have ever received in my life on Christmas morning {not to be mistaken with on the lips of course}! I have one sweet mother-in-law who made my first Christmas morning away from my family one I'll always remember. It was nice waking up in our own little apartment to SNOW just the two of us this year and reflecting on all we have to be thankful for, especially the birth of our Savior.

I made my very first eggs benedict for breakfast {don't let that fool you, the sauce was out of a package}, a West family tradition on Christmas morning which my mom would be proud of. Then I showed those two how to REALLY play gin rummy. 3-of-a-kind aces almost every hand! Nic fulfilled his modeling career with all the clothes he was given, another one of my biggest dreams to come true. I think it safe to say I was spoiled this year. :)

Hope you all had a VERY Merry Christmas!!

12 dates of Christmas {fourth}

On the fourth date of Christmas.....















we made sugar cookies and holy smokes, the recipe made about a thousand and one! Nic called himself the "mass producer" haha and frosted just about every single cookie while I went along behind him and decorated. These were THE softest sugar cookies I have ever eaten before. They also freeze really well and are still as soft when thawed. I found the recipe on the web somewhere so I don't claim any credit as it being a family favorite or anything but it's a good one in case you are ever on the hunt. :)

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1 1/2 c butter

2 c sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

5 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Directions :: Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Beat eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover and chill dough at least 2 hours (I chilled over night). Bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 min. 

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12 dates of Christmas {third}

** Somehow December seems to have gotten away from me this year. I mean, how is it Christmas Eve already?! While I am sad to say we didn't quite make it to 12 dates of Christmas, doing this series made me more aware of how much time Nic and I are getting to spend together and while it seems to be very little these days, {thankyouverymuch work and school} I've loved every spare minute we have had to do Christmasy things together. So here's to a few more dates that I am WAY behind on sharing with you.**

On the third date of Christmas.....







we drove around the city looking at Christmas lights as the snow was falling all around us! This is one of my favorite things to do around Christmas time. I'm not sure if it was from a lack of snow this year or what but I was surprised to find that not very many people put up lights on their house. We did however manage to find an award winner with a lit up car and an open garage with a manger inside, so so neat!

"Lets go deck the halls and light the lights" - Merry Christmas Eve!!!