Sierra's View: December 2013

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Monday, December 30, 2013

2013: A Year in Review

See Best Moments of 2013 Instagram Style Video here.



It's been a whirlwind of a year. Wow. I have been through an innumerable amount of changes this year--all good things, but still changes nonetheless. Which, for a person like me, is difficult. I have been  trying hard to make new years resolutions that actually mean something for the upcoming 2014 year which correlates with this adapting to change (post coming soon!) yet, like usual, I want them to be perfect...so I'm still adjusting and rewriting them. Let's get this show on the road, shall we? If you have any link ups on this, give me a holler!
(note: small grainy photos are from my instagram! Come follow!) 

THE THEME FOR 2013 WAS: CELEBRATION! 

JANUARY. 

Celebrated lots of birthdays,

Celebrated being officially done with college.
Enjoyed second half of the year of teaching 4th grade.  
Celebrated, well, pretty much anything we could. 
Ah, the single life. Was that seriously earlier this year? 

FEBRUARY.

Celebrating meeting the BOSTON CELTICS.
 Besides that, well, Guess what? February was exactly like January.
I fought through those coooold Utah winter days. 
But I celebrated many more friends' birthdays, mission farewells, dessert parties, etc. 


MARCH.

Made a video of tanner's mission/homecoming.


APRIL. 



Celebrated GETTING ENGAGED.
Went on Spring Break to San Diego with Tanner. 



MAY.



Celebrated finishing my first year as a teacher. 
Celebrated getting a job as a 6th grade teacher! 
Took my Engagement photos! 

JUNE. 



Celebrated going through the temple for my very first time. 
Went to Oregon to plan my wedding. 
(not celebrating the stress of planning a wedding. Ugh, I hated it haha!) 
Took our bridal photos.
Started my obsession with bikram yoga to deal with the wedding stress (and weight!) 


JULY.

(started an entire wedding series! lots of posts!)


AUGUST. 

Went on our honeymoon.
Moved into our new apartment.
Had our Utah Reception. 
Started my second year teaching. 


SEPTEMBER.


Tanner wrote me the sweetest birthday letter on my blog. 

OCTOBER.
classroom door
Celebrated the struggles of being a teacher? Haha. 
Celebrated Halloween and the craziness in the classroom. Of course. 
(honestly, just tried to survive the month!) 



NOVEMBER. 



Celebrated Thanksgiving with my in laws (and our kitten, Boo, of course)
Talked about the hardships of being a newlywed. 
  
DECEMBER. 

Celebrated the Christmas Season with lots of Christmas festivities and thoughts. 
Came home to Oregon to celebrate my first married Christmas with the whole family. (pictures to come!) 


Obviously this is just a simply overview of my year. 
I am ready to start new and accomplish many new and different things.
Here's to 2013. A crazy, fun, exciting, eventful, challenging, wonderful year! 





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Sunday, December 29, 2013

Best Moments of 2013 {Instagram Style}

Click Here  to watch the Best Moments of 2013 {Instagram Style} 




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Thursday, December 12, 2013

This Christmas Season, Try to Remember...


A few weeks ago, in one of my posts, I mentioned that being uber positive is not one of my gifts. 
Don't get me wrong, I do look at many positive things in my life, but it is because it's something that I have had to work at. And I don't know, maybe I'm the only Grinch in this blogging world, but I thought I'd share some thoughts during this season that have helped me. 

some christmas pics from this year and previous years







This Christmas Season, try to remember... that even though it is freezing cold outside (it seems as though a cold  front is everywhere! It's even below 30 degrees in St. George!), you have a warm home and bed to sleep in. 

This Christmas Season, try to remember... that even through the hustle and bustle of the holiday crowds, shopping, and traffic, that you have the means to pay for Christmas gifts. That you have the money to have a Christmas, even if it is a small one. 


This Christmas Season, try to remember... the importance of family. Even through their dysfunctions, issues, or annoyances, they love you. A lot. And they know you better than anyone else does. 

This Christmas Season, try to remember... how much you love your job. No, seriously. I stayed incredibly late this evening after school and I was dreading grading that stack of papers. Yet, when I stopped for a second, I realized how much I love my career as a 6th grade teacher. Sure, there are days when I don't want to be there or days when my students are excessively more difficult than others. But I am grateful that I HAVE a job. And I get to spend it enriching these 12 year olds minds--watching them grow in all facets of life--emotionally, physically, mentally, socially, and intellectually. I am grateful that I have a career where I truly love the people that I work with. I am grateful that I can provide for my little family right now. Even through those exhausting days! 

This Christmas Season, try to remember... All of the Christmas fun! I LOVE listening to Christmas music in my car, looking at all of lights, cuddling up and watching Christmas movies, making lovely desserts, decorations, cookie decorating, etc. Take advantage of all the amazing music, plays, activities, and shows that take place around you! it's a wonderful time of year where people want to celebrate and show their talents--how awesome is that?! 

This Christmas Season, try to remember... to LAUGH. I know that this season can be stressful. In fact, I'm sitting here making a list of all of the things that I need to get done, presents to buy, lessons to teach, a house to clean, etc. that I tend to get a little wrapped up in what I need to do, rather than just enjoying this time of year and these special moments. 

This Christmas Season, try to remember... those who have helped, loved, served, and made you a better person. I am so grateful for all of the people who have made my life so much better simply by being in it: my husband, my coworkers, my neighbors, my family, my in laws, my dear friends, even the people that I see at yoga! They brighten my day on days when I don't even realize it. And I am grateful for that.

This Christmas Season, try to remember... to serve. Think of others who may need it this season. And believe me, there is always someone who does. Try and think of the good in your life and remember that you never know who is fighting a harder battle. Serve. 

This Christmas Season, try to remember... how much your Savior loves you. Think of how much you love your spouse, parents, siblings, children, etc. and multiply that by a thousand. He loves you so incredibly much. Especially in times when you don't think so or perhaps in times when you least deserve it. He is your biggest fan. He is cheering for you. Remember the real reason why we have this season--for the birth of Him. He came to this world as a humble child to teach each of us. 

Hope you all have a simple, wonderful holiday remembering the important things this season:
 Our Savior and Loved Ones.
xoxo.

5 comments:

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Utah Reception

You guys sick of this stuff yet? Ha. I'm sorry...I'm just so slow at this posting wedding stuff. 
Aight homie g's.
Sidenote: I  call my students that all of the time and they think I'm hilarious. Yep, I can make 6th graders laugh. Proof that I really am funny, despite many of you skeptics out there. 
We got murried (translation: married) in P town (Portland, not Provo...) and it was perfect. I don't know if you can tell but I was kind of obsessed with my wedding. (That's a good thing, right?). We went our honeymoon. Did honeymoon stuff. (Sorry mom). and my mother in law and sister in law put on a WONDERFUL open house/reception in Utah. My wedding in Oregon was very vintage classic. And my mother in law wanted to go very vintage rustic country because, well, my in laws are....country. haha.
It was beautiful and I loved it so much! I loved that I could just relax (as you can tell by these photos because there is literally not ONE normal picture of me here) and have an enjoyable time with so many people that I love. Oregon is my home and will always be my home, but I have been in Utah for almost  5 years now and some of my nearest and dearest friends are here. And I was overwhelmed with the amount of support that I received at my Open House! It was in a gorgeous backyard, on a perfect August night.
(kinda makes me miss those deliciously warm evenings since it's 20 DEGREES OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW). Summer>winter.
Enjoy!
(PS--Kelsey, I spy youuuuuu. Told you these bad boys would come up soon. Love you!)

Thank you, Lizzy, for these wonderful photos!


 {Wedding Series}
The Proposal











My students from last year came! I almost cried when I saw them show up! 

Just doinz my hurrs.

The parentals being precious. 


Look at this homemade cake! Isn't that so dang cute?! The books cause I'm a teacher and the baseball mit for Tanner cause that' s his favorite sport. I spy a little bit of camo too. My in laws joked that they were going to put camo somewhere in my wedding. I refused. So they resorted to a ribbon :) 



Cousin, Hunter. 



Such a classic look.





"Stop telling me to make normal faces. I don't make normal faces!!!"


Hey! Leave me alone!







More students!!! 

My lover. 


My dad is sick of wedding stuff. 




I let loose. Let my hair down. and BUSTED A MOVE. 

So did Tanner.... You should see him shake his hips. #hedidballroom


Sigh. Makes me miss those awesome (and stressful) celebrations!
I would say til next time, except, well, I'm sort of hoping this is my only marriage.
Maybe I shouldn't be typing this.
Maybe we will throw a big party in 5 years to "renew our vows". No?

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