Traditions

I was looking at my good friends' blog yesterday and over the month she's been posting some her family Christmas traditions. They were so fun to read and got me thinking about our traditions. I hope she doesn't mind, but I'm going to kind of copy her and post some of traditions I grew up with and love.

* On Christmas Eve we used to always order Chinese food and go to my grama's. We'd all sit around the family room with TV trays and enjoy the meal. Now that my grandparents are gone, my family still continues the tradition...Chinese food on Christmas Eve.

* We always got to open 2 presents on Christmas Eve. One was always PJ's and the other was some fun and random toy my mom had found. We got all sorts of things like blow up boxing gloves or stuffed animal monkeys you could fling across the room and they'd scream! Leave it to my mom to find the unique toys. Just opening our PJ's at Christmas was never enough though, we had to put them on and model for everyone. Mom always had 3 or 4 different ones for each of us in sack in a different room in case the ones we opened didn't fit or we didn't like them (that's where I get the buying and returning trait I think). Anyway, over the years as we've all grown up our little fashion show has turned into a walk down the runway (hall) accompanied by the latest pop song. We laugh so hard as we strut our stuff down the hall for the camera...yes, we film this. Also, since we are older our PJ's have gone from cute little flannel sets to sweats, hoodies, a nice long sleeve shirt... 2 years ago my mom gave Brian and my brother Santa Claus robes and me a moo-moo! But of course she had other things for us in a sack in another room. Love this tradition! I still haven't got Brian down the "runway" but one day I will.

* My mom makes the most fabulous butterscotch breakfast roll! We would only get it a few times a year- Thanksgiving morning, Conference morning and Christmas morning. It smells divine while cooking and melts in your mouth when you eat it. Mom makes it in a bundt pan and it's always so nice and gooey. Since I've been married I've tried to carry on this tradition but I make it in a bread pan so there isn't as much for the two of us. I don't know if it's the bread pan or my old house that gets cold in the night, but my roll never raises like moms...or tastes as fabulous. I love this tradition of the breakfast roll on Christmas morning! My tummy is already growling for it. Good think we're having breakfast at my parents this year so we can have a "good" roll!

* Growing up, we always had Christmas morning at our house then went to my gram and gramp C's house in the afternoon for more Christmas and lunch (I love that Brian and I were able to purchase this house that so many traditions began in). Every year, since as long as I can remember, we would always find a white envelope on my grama and gramps tree with our name typed on it. It wasn't until all the other gifts were opened that we got our envelopes, gram or gramp would pass them out. Inside was a stack of FRESH, CRISP $1 bills. We would each get as many bills as years old we were. The fun of this tradition was counting the bills. I think we always got the wrong among. Someone would be short and someone else over...it was great. As I look back I wonder if my gramp did that on purpose to see if we were honest? Anyway, after gram and gramp passed away my mom decided to carry on the tradition. SO, each year we get our envelope with our crisp $1's, we all count them and laugh as we have to switch around so everyone gets the correct amount. I always remember gram and gramp while we open our envelopes.

* I guess this would considered "tradition-" All of us kids have our own "first Christmas" ornament and one more each year for our ages. Each year mom would buy us an ornament that had something to do with a vacation we took as a family or remind of something significant that happened during the year (ex: graduation, new car, new dog...). The "tradition" is that we all get to hang our own ornaments each year. When I was single and would come home from Christmas, my mom would have all my ornaments in a box waiting for me to hang them. Since I've been growing up and experiencing life on my own I've been collecting my own special ornament each year and let mom off the hook of finding them. I have so many fun ones from different vacatiions. I love reflecting as I hang them. Since I've been married I've tried to collect ornaments for Brian and I as we've traveled and experienced life together. This year mom gave me my box of ornaments, it was kind of sad to think I won't be hanging them on her tree anymore. I've actually been thinking of giving them back and letting her enjoy them longer (and continuing the tradition of hanging our own ornaments). I'm excited to continue collecting ornaments for Brian and I and for our children.

Those are a few of my most memorable traditions that have lasted through the years. There are a few more but I hate to bore you! I'm so excited for Brian and I to start our family so we can start some of our own traditions as well as continue the ones we grew up with and love.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Hubby Tag

I LOVE this picture of Brian (me not so much). I LOVE his smile!


How fun with this be! My friend from Snow College tagged me on her blog...

Where we met: We met on a blind date. I worked with his older sister and she lined us up. After we were engaged, Brian's mom told me over the years Brian's other sister as well as a neighbor had mentioned a "Sandy" that Brian just had to meet. Funny how things work out when they are supposed to.

How long we dated before we got hitched: Our first date was the end of July and we were married the following June 23rd. I always thought you (well, ME) should date someone for all seasons, we pretty much covered them all...summer hunting, winter hunting, fall hunting and spring hunting?

My Favorite features about him: I love his big smile, his blue eyes and long eyelashes. I love his hair when it's a little long and starts to get curly. I love his strong hands. I love his laugh.

My Favorite Qualities about him: Brian makes me laugh and I love it when we laugh together. I love his desire to learn and grow in the gospel. Brian is in the YM's in our ward and I love watching him interact with the boys and care for them. I love his big heart. Brian doesn't get really excited about going out to social events, but when we get there I love watching him interact with people; he really has a way with people.

His Nickname for me: Sandra or Dear

His Favorite Color: I hate to admit I don't know this!! I'm going to say blue.

His Favorite Food: Brian is a steak and potatoes guy! He also LOVES strawberry cheesecake.

His Favorite Sport: I'm going to say basketball. He plays on a rec. league now and again and we both love watching USU basketball! Brian is a Steelers fan too, so I better mention football.

Who said the "L" word first: He did, I didn't hesitate to say it back.

When was our first kiss: I don't remember how long we'd been dating, but it was at a movie theatre. It was kind of a accidental too. We both leaned in to say something and found ourselves so close we just kissed.

Favorite "Couple" thing to do: Camp, go for 4-wheeler rides and look for animals or find new trails, cuddle, watch movies, be with our families, just be together.

His hidden talents: Brian is very handy! He fixes all sorts of things! Brian is also very good with kids ;)

His favorite pastimes: Camping, hunting, vacationing with family

Will he read this? I doubt it. I don't think he even knows our blog address.

I tag: Jes and Amber

Holiday Weight Gain?

I went to the Dr. yesterday. I LOVE my Dr. appointments! I love that it means 4 weeks have gone by already and I LOVE hearing the heart beat each time. Yesterday was my 22 week appointment and it was short and sweet but so great! My doc pointed out that I am over halfway (of course I didn't need him to point that out though)!




I've been concerned about my weight gain these days. I wondered if I'm actually gaining too much too fast. He said I'm right on track...that with my heigth I'll probably gain 30 pounds total. He was sweet to let me know I have 20lbs I can still gain in my 18 weeks. "One pound a week," he said. Ha! If there's one negative to being pregnant this time of year it's ALL the treats ALL the time! I was reading about my pregnancy the other day it said, "at 22 weeks your baby ways about 1 lb." Only 1 lb!!! I've gained 10, where are the other 9? And don't you typically gain a few pounds a week towards the end of your pregnancy, so much for 1 lb a week? I don't want to deprive my child of any nourishment, but I feel like I better start reaching for more carrots instead of candy canes and hit the treadmill a little more this holiday!

thankful

I can't beleive I never posted pictures of our Thanksgiving! We had "lunch" with Brian's family and "dinner" or left overs with my family later. With both our families living so close, our holidays are always pretty jammed packed. I love spending time with both families though and participating in the different traditions that are unique to each. At Brian's parents we make a gingerbread houe after dinner; this year we made trains! At my parents, well...my family is big into games so we had a blast playing cards. I am SO THANKFUL for both of our families and all their love and support. I love spending time with them and making so many fun memories. I've been thinking, next year we'll have a little girl to celebrate the holidays with...HOW EXCITING!

Baby NEWS!

What a wonderful experience the ultrasound was!!! It was so special to "meet" our little baby girl for the first time. They said everything looked great! We are so excited to welcome our little angel into our home and lives next spring!

(thanks Google Image & Sassy Signs for the graphic)

The COUNTDOWN...

.
I had to post real fast...

In approximatley 5 minutes I will be on my way to our big ultrasound!!!! Will our baby D be a boy or girl????

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

me

Oh Christmas Tree

Becoming a DeGasser meant adopting new traditions...one of my favorites is cutting down our tree each year. Usually we have to trek through the snow to find our "perfect tree" (which I have come to realize really doesn't exsist in the wild and if you think you are going to find it, you'll be there ALL DAY LONG...that doesn't mean we haven't found some really nice ones though). This year the experience was totally different because there was no snow and so little when we did come across it. It was kind of weird hiking around in our jeans and hoodies for a tree instead of being all bundled up, but it was still a lot of fun! It did take us longer than usual to find our trees but we ended up with some real beauties!


Of course I had to post a few pictures of my darling niece and nephew...

Our New Hobby

Brian hunts, I take pictures. That's how it's been for the past 3 years. I feel naked without my camera at events and I love taking pictures. I'm no photographer and I don't have the greatest camera but I love documenting our life with pictures. Brian doesn't really love my hobby and especially doesn't love being photographed (so I take pictures of the dog). I've wanted a nice camera for quite some time now and Brian used to tease me about it just meaning me taking more pictures than I already do. I don't know what "turned" him but he started to get excited about photography in the last few months and thought a new camera wasn't such a bad idea. I guess you could say he realized you could "shoot" animals with more than just a bow or rifle. So we did some shopping and finally bought us a nice camera. The other day we both came home from work early and went for the camera because we thought the clouds looked neat...litte did we know we were racing each other home for the camera (Brian won). Now Brian goes for drives and takes the camera to photograph wildlife and I think it's great! I love that we share the same hobby! We take turns sharing with each other photo tricks or new things we learned how to do on the camera. We have LOADS to learn and I can't wait! Here are some of the pictures Brian recently took. I think he's a pretty good "shot!"




Until we can really figure out this camera, I'm sure most of our photo taking will be with the good ole point and shoot (I still carry that manual around!). Can't wait to learn all the tricks though and really start taking pictures!

TAG

I got tagged! So here goes nothin'!

8 Things

T.V. Shows:
(in no particular order)
1. Designed To Sell
2. C.S.I. (Latley my dreams have been pretty weird though so I think I need to give it a break for a bit)
3. Dirty Jobs
4. Greys Anatomy
5. Friday Night Lights
6. TODAY Show (It's a morning ritual. Matt & Meredith keep me up to date on the "latest")
7. So You Think You Can Dance/American Idol
8. Prison Break (Thanks to Brian. I think it's about time for it end though. Those guys can only run for so many seasons)

What I did Yesterday:
1. Woke up
2. Showered and dressed
3. Ate hot cereal
4. Went to church & felt the spirit
5. Stayed after for YW meeting
6. Went home and made a snack
7. Visited the in-laws
8. Came home and lounged before going to bed
(lazy Sunday)

Places Love to Eat:
1. Maddox (YUMMY rolls)
2. Olive Garden - ALL You Can Eat Lunch...Love the SOUPS!
3. Juniper Take Out
4. The Petersen's (I had to copy Jes here, ther'snothing quite like your mom's home cooking)
5. Chilis
6. P.F. Changs
7. Old Grist Mill
8. Rumbi's

Looking Forward To:
1. Becoming a mom - Dec. 3 we find out if it's a boy or girl
2. Turkey dinner with family
3. Dec. 8, a day off to shop with my mom
4. Camping this summer
5. Hunting season to end (but I'm starting to wonder if it really ever ends)
6. Christmas traditions
7. The day someone buys our truck
8. 2009 and all that awaits us

Wish List:
1. Healthy baby
2. Very large Christmas bonus (ya right, it's a wish though)
3. Own a house without a mortgage
4. Go back to Hawaii one day
5. All my freckles and moles would vanish
6. Eat all I want and never gain weight
7. New computer
8. Free lazik eye surgery

haLLoWeEN

I don't know about the rest of you but over the years I've gone through spurts of liking or not really liking Halloween and the whole dressing up ordeal. It was so fun and "cool" when I was a lot younger to dress up and go trick-or-treating with friends and for a few years in college we dressed up and just walked around neighborhoods scaring people. Then there were a few years when carving pumpkins and going to a corn maze was the extent of my Halloween celebrating. And I'd go to the ward party but never dress up cause I just felt stupid. Well, times have changed and so has my attitude and enthusiasm about Halloween...I really enjoy it! I pretty much owe it all to my dear friend and previous roommie, Jes! She LOVES Halloween and when you live with someone who loves it you can't very well not love it too! I remember one year we went to the mall and forked out the cash for some great pirate and gypsy costumes - that's where it all began. I LOVE dressing up now and I plan my costume a year in advance! I also love working on Halloween because I GET to dress up ALL DAY! The businesses downtown do a little trick-or-treat thing and I get to pass out candy all day and see all the fun costumes too(of course I take notes for next years costume). I felt so special this year because a darling little girl wanted her picture taken with me! I felt like I was in Disneyland playing a character (Hmmmm that's a job I might consider one day). Anyway, I love Halloween! I love the fun decoration, I love the candy of course, I love the costumes, I love the night itself! Thanks Jes! (and I mean that sincerely)

P.S. Sorry the pictures aren't that great, Brian went hunting on Halloween so I had to take the pictures myself.

Finally...Washington, D.C

I've had these pictures on my computer for some time now, just waiting for blogger to let me post. It hasn't liked my pictures for some reason. Anyway, last month I went with my good friend Jes to Washington, D.C. and we had a really great time. She was there for work but made PLENTY of time for fun!

A few of the days we would meet up during Jes' lunch or inbetween her session but we did have ONE FULL DAY to explore and we sure made the most of it! I don't know how many miles we covered but we walked and walked and walked! We were able to see so many monumnets and places, it was really moving. One of my favorite monuments is the WW2 monument. It was so beautiful and so powerful. I loved that it had water too!


We tried to arrange a tour of the White House while we were there but unfortunately weren't able to do that. We did, however, get to tour the capitol! I noticed while in D.C. there is so much symbolism to everything, as well as history. I loved learning! Here we are with our headseats (below) enjoying our tour of our nations capitol!

We flew in on a Tuesday night and left on Saturday morning and still didn't get to see half of all we could! We were able to check off most of the things we wanted to see though such as Arlington Cemetary, most of the monuments, some of the Smithsonian Museums...and we even took the Metro one night to Colonial Alexandria for a Ghost Tour! That was a fun place to be! There were so many shops and neat places to eat! Like I said, we didn't even see half of the area! Guess we'll have to go back! Next time I'll bring more bandaids for blisters though!

Daisy's New Shirt

Daisy got a new shirt and has been dying to show it off!



Turn around Daisy so everyone can see...



No, we aren't getting another dog...we are having a baby in April!!!
YIPPEE! We couldn't be more excited! I'm 15 weeks and feeling great! Only 25 more to go!

Just Checking In

I finally rounded up some fun pictures and thought I would post a little something but for some darn reason I can't seem to load the photos. I recently returned from a fun trip to Washington, D.C. with my friend Jes and was ready to brag about all the fun we had! I'll get them up soon I hope! I'm sure I've mentioned it before but the only Internet access I have is at work and at my mom's so it's pretty hard to get a post done these days. Sorry for the long absences. Also, I'm starting to think work has "caught on" to me being off task and they are messing with my Internet so I can't post there. Dirty little buggers!

What's on my mind right now (besides being annoyed I can't load photos)...I am so happy fall is here! I absolutely LOVE this time of year. I am a real summer girl but fall is close second. By the time autumn comes around I'm ready to bundle up, turn on the fireplace and start and end my day with a cup of hot cider or cocoa! Everything is so CRISP this time of year too, even the air! I love decorating for Halloween and fall, I love the Pumpkin Walk, I love carving pumpkins, making sugar cookies, taking drives up the canyon to enjoy the colors, going for walks... Fall marks the beginning of the rest of the year and there's so much to do and enjoy from here till Jan. 1. I hope you are all enjoying the fall weather as much as I am! What are some of your fall traditions?

mOrE SuMmER fUn!

We celebrated our TWO YEAR anniversary this summer! I can't believe it's been 2 years! Time is flying! I feel like it hasn't been more than a year, in a good way! We have had a great 2 years and I look forward to many many more! We took a last minute road trip to Jackson and drove through Yellowstone pretty close to our anniversary day...so we kind of called that our anniversary celebration. I've never seen SO many animals in the park! It was amazing! Buffalo, coyote, bear, elk, deer, big horn sheep...and the park was so green too! Of course we took Daisy, she's our travelling buddy. I think she had a great time too. We just found hotels along the way and one night we ended up in a cabin at an RV lot without any bedding and the bathroom about 30 yards away. It was pretty funny. We had to buy our bedding at Wal-Mart...we didn't pack for "camping." I won't ever forget that trip!

We also celebrated Brian's 30th birthday this summer! Isn't my hubby a hottie!!

Girls Camp was quite an experience!!! I haven't been to girls camp for at least 18 years! Wow, I just dated myself there. It was such a good time though and a lot nicer of a camp than we ever had as YW. All the girls camped in our big wall tent and us leaders snuggled in a smaller one. We kept watch at night for escapee's and the girls weren't to happy about that, we thought it was pretty funny. It was a great camp though, full of fun activities and great food! The girls were a blast too. When I got put in YW I felt this pressure to be accepted, like I was a YW all over. It was pretty stressful (sounds silly I know). When the girls called me a "cool leader" it was hard not to shout for joy or get a big head...yah, I'm "cool!"


What's summer without a FEW mother-daughter golf tournaments! Holly couldn't play in the last one and Heather couldn't play in this one...we never got the 4 of us together, darn. Holly, mom and I had a blast though. It was a Hawaiian themed tournament. Once again, we didn't shoot too well but we sure scored great in the laughing and good times department!


AND...one of my most bestest friends got MARRIED!!! It was such a beautiful day and so was the bride! (Bottom, these pictures are for you. Sorry it took so long to get these posted)




Needless to say, it was an action packed summer! I think things are finally starting to slow down. I'm ready for fall...not winter, just fall! Oh...and now it's hunting season and Brian has kidnapped the camera so no pictures for a while. Sorry!
Until next time...

Archives

I was just going through the pictures I've saved to my computer and came across THESE! I can't believe I didn't post about this FUN NIGHT earlier! My mom, sisters and I all went to the A.I. Concert and it was a BLAST! A bunch of people from work got tickets also and we all met at Applebee's before the big event that night! What a great concert! We had such a great time singing along and screaming for our favorites.


MY personal favorite is Micheal Johns! I didn't get any real great shots of him on stage (these of the David's aren't' the best either but you get the picture). Oh that MJ sure is a cutie!!


After the concert my mom (yes my mom) convinced us to go find the tour bus with her so we could get pictures and possibly an autograph or two. My mom is such an Archie fan...she even bought an 8X10 from the souvenir booth for him to sign. We all kind of rolled our eyes at the thought of waiting for the bus...but we ended up getting really into the excitement and waiting with the rest of the fans! I didn't get my picture with MJ (sob) but all of us girls were able to get a pic with Ramielle. She was really sweet!

Some of the girls we were standing by that night told us how they came earlier that day and were able to mingle with the Idols, get photos and autographs. My mom did some sleuthing when she got home and found out they'd be doing the same thing the next day for their second concert. Mom and Holly drove the 2 hours again the next day to get some more pictures and autographs.


Mom has already said she probably won't be watching the next American Idol season because it won't be nearly as good as this one. We'll see...maybe I'll be posting pictures next year of the A.I. concert 2009!

M.I.A.

It's been awhile! We are alive and doing great...just SUPER busy! One of these days I'll get to posting again. Camping, vacations, family reunions, wedding, baby showers, YW, yard work - the list goes on and on! Sorry for the long absense, I'll catch up on things sooner or later! Hope everyone is having a great summer!

me

Mother-Daughter Tourney

What better way to spend a summer evening than on the golf course with some of my favorite people!! Unforunatley, one of my sisters couldn't make is so we just played with a threesome. (We missed you, Holly!) It was all fun for us 3, real low key, no pressure to win. We shot a 72!! Ok, so that was on 9 holes (72 is really what you should be shooting on 18 holes). It was a blast though! Mom didn't shoot into the sand, we each rotated shooting and either Heather or me put her here. She got us out like a pro!

I LOVE the look on Heather's face here! She is so serious, ready to knock that ball clear to the green! She has quite a powerful swing, it's aiming that's the problem (see below).

Me on the other hand...I'm lucky to get the ball off the ground! I had a few good shots, but more laughs than anything! This picture is of me celebrating because I made a real good long putt! GO ME! I thought about going through some of my mom's old pictures and scanning some of me on the course when I was little. I can remember one picture specifically where I am in a car seat in the golf cart! That's right, I was born to golfing parents. My grandparents were golfers, my parents are golfers, my brother played on the high school golf team and my sisters both have great swings! I still struggle, but I love about anything that takes me outside in the summer...and golf courses are always soooo beautiful! I love spending time with the girls too! I can't say it enough times, we had a blast! If there would have been a prize for the most pictures taken, the most laughs or the most bad shots...we would have taken first!

The picture above is especially for you, Jaci! Hope you like!