{christmas is almost here!}

We fly to Washington tomorrow for Christmas break!! We are way excited. We've filled these last few weeks of December here in Utah with a temple trip, a Cold Stone run, a trip to Temple Square with friends, and watching It's a Wonderful life. Love that movie! We are grateful for this time of year and for what it's really all about.

{elder garlick}

In just 18 days, Nate flys back to Texas from Germany! Woah, what a two years it has been. By the time Nate sees us in Utah just a couple months after getting home, he'll get to meet a new brother-in-law and a new niece! So much can happen in 2 years and I'm excited to see this boy. His letters have been so inspiring and we have loved his weekly emails home about what's going on across the world. He's rocked it out there in Germany as a missionary and we couldn't be more proud.

And here is my favorite excerpt out of all of his letters {which includes quite a few memories and inside jokes}:

"But what is it about the family that makes life so worth living? It's the family counsels, and the family singing at the piano, it's the boys vs. girls football game, it's the laughing and not being able to stop when dad sits by you in Stake Conference, it's the road trips with movies with the commentary and no remote to turn it off, it's the trips to places where Spanish is the main language. It's the dwelling boxes and Rex, it's the family videos and dancing to Lawrence Welk, it's the swing dancing and the Christmas eve letters, it's the pulling weeds, and the morning song. It's the "Oh what a beautiful morning" to wake up for scriptures, it's the fried pickles and doughy caramel cake. It's the late night talks, it's the early morning Aggie Flags, it's the games and the treats, the surprise snacks, and the family picture-taking shoot bonanza... that makes life worth living!"

{this past weekend}

We had such a fun night at the Garlick Cousin Christmas Party last night! My cousin Kate made me an adorable chalkboard menu board that I can't wait to use!! She has one in her apartment and I loved it when I saw it and she was so sweet to remember and make me one. I still can't believe our babies are due the same day! Our moms actually had babies on the same day (my sister Makell and her brother Jospeh)!! So maybe we'll go with trend and deliever on the same day.

We had a fun weekend watching all of the Lord of the Rings movies; my work is renting out a theater for a pre-screening of The Hobbit on Thursday so we decided we should watch them all right before! We also went to a pizza party at Travis' accounting friend's house to celebrate Ph.D. applications being submitted. We are grateful that process is complete! After just 4 days of submitting them last week (it usually takes more like 1-2 months), we heard back from  one of the universities with good news, so Travis will be flying out there at the end of next month for a visit and interview!! We are waiting on all of the others now and are hoping for good news as well.

 

 

{accounting 200}

Travis recieved another job with BYU for next semester! He will continue working his 20 hours as a research assistant and then he will spend 10 hours a week teaching Accounting 200 at the BYU SLC Center. He's also going to be in school full-time, so he will be busy, but luckily his final semester is just 12 credits. He is super excited! He is going to do so well. It was so fun to see his name on the BYU class registration page listed under instructor!!

{time is flying by}

25 weeks & 3 days along today!! And I think we may have a gymnast on our hands; she moves around for what feels like, at times, non-stop and I love it. I can't see my toes anymore while standing up straight which is a crazy thing. Also, maternity skinny jeans are my new best friend. No more rubber band or belly band {which were awesome too though}; thank you to the person who designed skinny jeans for pregnant women. They are heaven-sent!

 

{this past weekend}

We had a great weekend! On Friday we were able to go the Provo Temple and then celebrate Trav having submitted all of his Ph.D. applications with some Panda Express! We are glad that this initial process is over and are anxious to hear from schools in a few months! He worked so hard on the GMAT and on submitting his applications and put so many hours into it all! We are grateful to know we are in the Lord's hands and the best thing will work out for us and our little family.

We also were able to run some errands, catch up on sleep and laundry, babysit for some friends and went to a party; we made gingerbread houses and for some reason we were laughing at everything the entire time we made our tiny little house and it kept falling down. Miraculously, it stayed standing in the end. We also played some of the greatest rounds of Mafia I have ever played in my entire life. I think I could have almost gone into labor though from laughing so hard; everything was just hilarious!