Christmas Break! Soooo Goood!

We had so much fun over Christmas break. Kory finished finals, finally! We had a mini-break over the weekend, worked again on Monday then hit the road on Tuesday! I-84 was closed so we had to go the round-about way to get home, through Pocatello. But it actually didn't take too much longer so we didn't mind. The road turned out great, which we were very happy about. On the drive to Boise Kory and I played a game where one of us would say a random topic and the other one would have to respond to it for 1 minute. It was actually a lot of fun to see how the other person responded. It entertained us for a while.

We got to Boise that night and Mom and Dad were happy to have us home safe. The house looked cute with Christmas lights up. Mom decorated the Christmas tree so beautifully. As we started talking about plans for the few days we would be there Dad says, "hey listen, I got something that I thought might be fun...a Nintendo Wii." Haha, he continued to tell us how he had gotten the Wii and some fun games for us so we could have fun while we were in Boise. He had to travel all over town to try and get it! Aren't my parents the best! They really wanted Kory and I to have a lot of fun while we were in Boise. Kory and I were able to find a game I have been really wanting, Mario Party 8! I love that game! We use to play it all of the time on Game Cube. One night when we were playing together Kory said, "I've never played with a Christmas present before Christmas!" haha, it was cute. We really had so much fun with that (and we are still having fun with the game).

On Christmas Eve we went over to our family friend's home and opened Christmas Eve gifts then Kory and I stayed longer to play games with them. The Ellsworths are my favorite family. They have 6 boys that are all like my little brothers. We played Settlers of Catan with them. It was my first time playing and I won! Yeah! I didn't even know I had won until all of the sudden Kieth said, "Doesn't she have the longest road? That means she just won." I think Kory was proud of me.

On Christmas morning Kory and I were up making cinnamon pull-aparts, a Hjelm tradition. It was fun to make them together. Mom and Dad loved them too. Later we opened gifts. I was so excited about the things I got Kory. I was really hoping that he would like them. Mom is so cute, she took video clips of us opening our gifts (except we missed my first gift). I love these videos, our kids are going to be watching these one day. I think its so funny to watch how "newlywed" we are.





They make me laugh so much. We are so silly. I loved the gifts that Kory got me, he is SO thoughtful! He really liked what I got him too...especially the slippers!

On Christmas day we went to Ellsworth's for Sunday dinner. It was so yummy! The Christmas china was beautiful too. Cindy had little settings with our names on them. She is such a great hostess. In the middle of dinner Stephen (Elder Nelson) called! Ahhh, yayyyy! We had to rush home so that we could talk to him.

It was so nice to talk to my brother. He is my best friend, and I sure miss him sometimes! He is doing really well and loving being a missionary. He only had 2 transfers left, crazy! Then starting Spring term he'll be back in Provo going to school and hanging out with Kory and I, I can't wait! But anyway, the funny thing is that over Christmas Stephen was with a companion from Sweden. His companion was telling him all about my new last name and how is means "helmet." Then he laughed, Stephen really got a kick out of that, but he has the best laugh! We talked about how "helmet" also represents strength like a warrior or something. Nonetheless, it was fun that Stephen could kind of connect to me that way through his companion. He is a zone leader in Bakersfield, CA and loving the opportunity to be a leader and a teacher. He is such a happy guy.

The next day Kory and I headed to the mall. Oh my goodness it was SO crazy there! Too many people, traffic and parking were insane. We shopped a little bit. But didn't get anything. Unfortunately, it ended up taking way too much of our time.

That night we went downtown with Mom. First Kory had to make sure I was all bundled up, haha. I felt like the kid on the Christmas Story movie when his mom bundled him up so much he can't move.

We were going to eat at PF Changs but the wait was way too long, so we got lettuce wraps to go instead. We went to One The Border instead, my favorite Mexican restaurant to eat at when I got home. My best friend Cassie (she was one of my bridesmaids) serves there so we were able to see her. Lately when I go home I feel like there isn't always enough time to squeeze in the visits I would like to. I'm glad we got to see her there.

After dinner Kory and I went and saw Bedtime Stories. We liked it, it made us laugh. This is Adam Sandler while it is "raining gumballs" in the movie.


The next day we went to Marley and Me with Mom and Dad. All of us liked it. It was super sad though! After the movie we went and tried Ruby River for the first time. For the price you pay, we weren't that impressed. I love dinner and a movie with my family. Almost every time I go home we go out for dinner and a movie, I always have so much fun.


My mom had a secret project that she revealed while we were there. She was going to make Kory a quilt! She made Stephen (my brother) the coolest quilt in red, black, and white. She pieced it and then had it quilted. It looks so awesome, such a boy quilt. So Mom decided to make one for Kory, too! The two of them were so funny trying to pick out which fabrics they wanted to use. I just watched TV. I think Mom was very excited that Kory actually took time to decide and give an opinion rather than just say, "yeah, that looks good ok, ok." like I would, haha. I'm excited to see how it turns out! Quilts are always so personal and special...especially when someone makes it just for you.



I will definitely post pictures of the final project after it is done!

We drove home on Sunday, when again we lucked out with the weather! It had pounded snow the day before. The drive felt really long. On our way home we got to stop and have dinner at Kory's Uncle Lorrin's. Kory's sister Kelli and the fam were there. That was so fun! I love family gatherings, and now I have even more family to have family gatherings with! Being married is the best, haha. Kelli and Jeremiah got Kory and I such a wonderful Christmas gift...a crepe pan! We are so excited about that. And of course a wonderful activity to do together, an "I Spy" puzzle. They were so thoughtful, and we are so grateful.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Kory and I worked. Then it was new years eve! Yay! One of my two favorite holidays! Can you guess my other favorite? ...The 4th of July of course! I LOVE fireworks. But anyway, after work we got to go over to play cards with Kelli and Jeremiah. That was way fun. But before we played, Kory got the kids all rowdie so they wouldn't want to go to bed, haha. After cards Kory and I headed up to Salt Lake City so we could go to the "First Night" party downtown. We met up with my friend Sarah (from Del Sol) and her husband Sam. I rarely get to see them so that was great! Everyone froze from the cold except me. I guess I had the best shoes on, Kory couldn't feel his toes. I also wore my hood the whole time, which helped. We had fun watching the fire dancers, the hypnotist--who actually wasn't very entertaining--and listening to the interesting live music. But the best part, oh you know what that was, the countdown! We started counting down around 26 or so and continued down to 1 when Kory suddenly dipped me for our first kiss of 2009, haha. He's so cute. Then we got to enjoy a fireworks show. What a perfect way to experience our first New Years together, and start out 2009.



The next day we got to hang out with Kelli, Jeremiah and the kids again. We met them for lunch at Rumbie Island Grill. I got some cute pictures of Kory and the boys. However, my mom pointed out to me that I forgot to get pictures of, "beautiful Aubry!" Oh man! How did I forget that!? Probably because during lunch she was sleeping and so quiet. But she is beautiful. I guess we'll have to enjoy her pictures on Kelli's blog. And why don't we have a pic of us with Kelli and Jeremiah!? Oh man, I was a total slacker. Meanwhile, here is Kory playing with the boys :)



We missed lots of family and friends over the holidays. But overall it was a wonderful break!