24 Birthday Reasons

24 Reasons Why This Will Be The BEST Year Yet

++ Trager starts pharmacy school in 99 days! And we couldn't be more excited :)

++ Megan comes home from her mission in 27 days!! 

++ I just finished my teaching certification and will {hopefully} be teaching high school English or seminary this fall.

++ Trager and I will become an uncle and aunt for the first time this year! Baby Ence can't get here fast enough!

++ Our cute little rental house in Idaho! It's only a block from the school! Decorating it will be a blast!!

++ Lots more Hintze time!! 

++ Getting together with my sweet cousin Rosemary to learn more about this crazy blogging world :) 

++ Having a chance to attend General Conference in October and April! {This is HUGE people.}

++Being closer to Tara and Riley in California and Hunter in Idaho!

++ I have lots of new recipes I want to try {thank you Pinterest!} It's a goal to get more savvy in the kitchen.

++ Finally learning "Dawn" by Dario Marianelli on the piano!

++ I keep seeing friends of mine at Tulip Festivals in Utah, Oregon. Washington, and....IDAHO! We will be going next year!

++ Visiting more of the LDS temples. There will be so many more close to us!

++ I'm currently pinching my pennies for a new computer! That will be a game changer with my blogging when that happens :)

++ Visits from the Gowens family in Idaho! {Yes, mom and dad, I'm talking about you!}

++ Lake Mead and Lake Powell {need I say more??}

++ Trying the potato flake chocolate milk :)

++ Buying and reading new books!!! Our little library will keep growing and growing!

++ Our first autumn in Idaho...and all the other firsts we'll have this year!

++ Hopefully attending a few blogging conventions!

++ Hanging twinkly lights in our very own backyard!

++ Creating new traditions in Idaho and in Utah with our family! Visiting my cousins and in-laws in Utah is always a good time and we'll be even more available now!

++ Taking some online courses in photo-editing and branding!

++ Trager teaching me how to snowboard this winter!!

24, you're looking pretty wonderful!! 

A Very Merry Christmas

 

 

Merry {late} Christmas!!! I hope everyone spent the past couple of days with family, eating until the couldn't anymore, giving and receiving gifts, and remembering the real reason of Christmas!! Trager and I switch off Christmas and Thanksgiving with our families each year so this Christmas we are in St. George with our Hintze fam :) And our holiday season has been so much fun so far! (The holiday season doesn't end until New Years...right?!)

 

 

 

 

 

On Christmas Eve Trager, Taylor Ence, Tegan, Papa D, and I all loaded up to go on a horse ride. We rode for about 2.5 hours and for sure the highlight of the trip was when I almost got bucked off my horse! I had gotten a little comfortable and after riding up and down hills through a million little bushes we came to a dirt road. Trager, Taylor, and Papa D had all galloped ahead while Tegan and chatted behind them. And then we decided it was time to catch up. I kicked my horse (Paco) and clicked my tongue and he shot forward. At first I was fine, but the more he ran the less in rhythm I became. At one point I could've sworn I was going to go over his neck! Finally, after a few swear words (whoops!) and clutching the saddle horn for dear life, I got Paco to stop. My legs shook for about twenty minutes afterwards, but overall Papa D said it was win because I stayed on! 

Also, I can't get enough of those pretty red mountains!

 

 

After we got home from riding and warmed up a bit, it was time for Christmas Eve dinner! Ty always makes prime rib and twice baked potatoes and lots of other goodies. Twice baked potatoes seriously might be my favorite thing to eat! After we ate, we each got to open up a few gifts. One of them was from Trager's grandpa and his wife who are serving an LDS mission in Wisconsin and Michigan. They are currently serving in the upper peninsula of Michigan so we all got some sort of "yupper" t-shirt. It was pretty cute! Then we got to open our "surprise gift" from Ty and Papa D. Of course, it was our Christmas jammies! This year Ty got all of us a really hilarious t-shirt. Mine read, "I'm silently correcting you grammar!" I think she nailed ;) After gifts we watched a movie about the nativity and it was the perfect way to end the night!

 

Our Christmas morning was filled with gifts, laughter, and cinnamon rolls...one of my favorite combinations! We spent the rest of the day watching movies and being around our family. One of the things I was most excited for this Christmas was to talk to my sister, Megan, who is serving an LDS mission in  Santa Rosa, CA. I write her emails most days, but getting to hear her voice was really special :) I may have cried through most of the phone call. I'm just so proud of how well she is doing! Sister Gowens is such an example to me!

 At the end of the night, all the girls went on a car ride to see the Christmas lights in the area. We went to about 6 houses that each had music coordinated with their lights. It was so neat to see! Finally, we went to a look out point over St. George and even though the picture below doesn't do it justice, it was so pretty to see all the lights of the houses surrounding the St. George temple.

 

 

I hope everyone continues to have a wonderful holiday season!!

 

Book review up tomorrow...

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Reason for the Season

^^^I can't get enough of this handsome guy! So fun to spend extra time together with the holiday from work!^^^

 

Last night, Trager and I went with all the Hintze girls to the Tuachan Live Nativity. We were hurrying in and by the time we got there it was standing room only, as it was the last show before Christmas, but we crept down the stairs and were able to watch with a great view! The performance was only 15 minutes long, but it depicted the events of the night of the Savior's birth so sweetly. It was the perfect reminder of why we celebrate this time of year! To watch that young mother with her newborn babe in the manger truly showed the humble beginnings of the Lord. I know the story, but to see it out acted was a new experience. It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of gift buying and traveling. Yet, there is so much more to the season! This performance helped me to slow down and ponder the life and purpose of the Savior. I'm just so grateful we all got to watch this little reminder!

 

 

This video is another favorite that helps me to ponder the blessings I should be thankful for during the holiday season!

 

 



A Night at The Nutcracker

^^^Gotta love a $5 ornament...Laura got quite the deal!^^^

Over the weekend, my friend Laura and I went to see The Nutcracker in Oklahoma City. I went last year with my mom and sister, Hunter, and since then decided it was a must for the holiday season! I love ballet in general, but don't get to attend many performance which makes these outings to see The Nutcracker even more special! 

Laura and I went to dinner before heading up and it was just so fun to chat with her! I need to make more time like this with my friends. After we finished eating, it was time for the main event! The lobby was packed when we got there so our chance at well-lit pictures went out the window. Instead, we bought some treats and headed up to our section. One of my favorite parts of going to The Nutcracker is watching all the Mom's with their little girls. But, this year my favorite pair was a daddy/daughter duo. They caught the elevator up with us to our seats. The little girl had on a pink tulle skirt and a paper Burger King crown. Her curly red hair hung down under the crown and she sort of bounced from one foot to another with her nervous excitement. Her dad held her hand and looked almost as excited to be there. He was obviously not the type of guy who actively looks for chances to go to the ballet, but he did look like the type of Dad who got excited when he knew how much his daughter was going to love the show. It was really cute to see, even if it was just for the ride up!

The show was fantastic, as expected! The company had a big donation this year and were able to buy new costumes and a new set. It was absolutely beautiful! Another thing I love about The Nutcracker is the familiarity of the music. Once the second act begins, I recognize most of the pieces! And who could deny how wonderful the dancing is, I mean seriously...the Arabian dance kills me every time! Overall, it was definitely another memorable evening at

  The Nutcracker!

Our First Tree

^^^ Instant Christmas Cheer!!!^^^

 

This is the first year Trager and I have had a tree. It is our third Christmas together, but our very first Christmas tree! We've waited to buy one because we were always traveling for Christmas and frankly our little college budget always made it a touch unreasonable. Well, last year we finally decided enough was enough and ventured out a day or two after Christmas and bought ourselves this 6' beauty. I think this couldn't have been a better plan because all of the ornaments were half off as well!! We even splurged on a few really nice ones from Dillards...and they really "make" the tree if you ask me ;) 

 

We set it up last weekend and over the past week as I've watched it shining in the corner of our living room, something has hit me. Trager and I have settled in somewhere. In the past, everywhere we've lived has been glaringly temporary and as a result neither of us saw any since in taking up roots. And even though we will eventually have to move out of our little apartment, for now it is home and it really feels that way. It was just so cozy setting up the tree! The pine needles that were all over after the fact....not so much!

 

^^^The deer that hangs in our living room also got a touch of Christmas! I keep referring to it as the "the reindeer" which I guess is only fitting. I'd like to give it an actual name, but can't settle in on anything...I'm fully open to suggestions!^^^

 

^^^This frosting was used for Christmas cookies...not to be confused with Easter cookies. Look at those pastels...my food coloring game is seriously lacking!^^^

 

^^^If anyone is looking for someone to make cookies for their next birthday party you might want to ask....anyone else! I made one batch of sugar cookies and they were terrible. Luckily, Tara was over and she whipped up another batch! And then Hunter and I got ahold of them and this is the result. They tasted good I promise! Most of them went to my visiting teaching sisters and they are way too nice to tell me otherwise :)^^^

 

Sometimes I get so caught up in looking ahead...like I can't wait to know where we will end up and what we will be doing in a year or two. But right now cuddling on the couch with my man and our cozy tree in the corner, I think I can wait just a little bit longer because right now is pretty great!

 

I hope you are loving your Christmas tree as much as we are!

 

First review up tomorrow!!