Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014

2013 ended quietly and I think we were both okay with that!  We went out for pizza (Nick's choice of course) and then had the Jones' over for games and fireworks.  Nick was most excited about the fireworks and I had to get him to refrain from spending a small fortune.  Since when did fireworks get so expensive??!  Despite shelling out some bucks for them, it was fun seeing him all excited.  I think last year we were in bed by 11pm, but we were party animals this year and last until 1am :)

I posted this on Facebook.  In 2013 Nick and flew on a combined total of 102 airplanes.  Craziness.  As fun as all the adventures are, I'm hoping to spend a little more time in one place this year.  Just for memories sake this year we went to: North Carolina (more times than I can count), Las Vegas, Colorado, Texas, New York, Washington DC, Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany, France, England, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some.  Not sure where we will go in 2014, but a move might be in our future :)

More of December

Nick got to be home in Az for nearly two weeks around Christmas and New Year's.  It was so great!  I only worked one and a half of those days, so we were able to spend a lot of time together.  Which meant house projects (oh joy), some outlet shopping, sporting events, and lots of cooking at home (which sadly doesn't happen too often if we both are alone).

The day after Christmas the decorations were put up, and the painting began!  As some of you may know I had two girls living in my house last year and ever since they moved out in July I have been itching to repaint.  Girls are gross, I'll say it.  There was makeup residue on the walls and carpet, scuff marks on the baseboards from shoes and the doors are all beat up from hanging mirrors and purses.  It was time for some TLC.  We had a slight fiasco with the two gallons of paint we bought not being the same color, but after me having words with the store manager of Lowe's we painted these rooms not once by twice (to fix the mis match color lines) with 4 gallons of premium paint for $17 and 2 full days of work.

 It's not often that Nick requests to go shopping but all his hard work painting definitely deserved a trip. He wanted to spend some Christmas money from paretns and after purchases of a new cell phone, new watch (here he is modeling it), new shoes, and a few new swimsuits for our cruise next month he was happy.  I was proud of myself for only buying $6.99 workout headbands at under armour, and after a return to J-crew and target--I made even more Christmas money.  Saving it for a rainy day.

 I saw that ASU had a home basketball game with Nick was in town and thought that would be something fun to go to since we had never been to one before.  When I looked at the schedule and saw that it was the same day as the Louisvlle/KY basketball game and the Louisville/Miami football bowl game, I knew it was going to be a day of sports.  I had to get my outfit changes ready!

One of the first dates ever Nick tried to take me on was to an ASU basketball game.  We sill laugh whenever we think about it, because we never got to go.  Nick had tickets and we he looked to see what time it started he did not realize it gave the time in eastern time and the game is obviously in Az-mtn time!  So he picked me up for the date, we drive to the arena only to realize the game ended about an hour before!  We never tried to go to another game since.  Nick tried so hard when were dating, and these "fun" experiences happened all the time.  It's a miracle we made it to marriage ;)

So the joke the whole morning was that we better go early to the game just in case.  We got there over an hour before it started, had to wait for the doors to open and were the first ones in.  Nick says we were just making up for our last attempt.

The perks of showing up early is that you see Sparky getting ready.

 ASU played UC Irvine and pulled out a win

 We left the game and had 20 minutes until the Louisville basketball tip-off so after my shirt change in the car we headed across the street to BW3.  I still can't believe we lost to Kentucky.  Oh well, it isn't March Madness yet.

 Next we went home to watch the first half of the Louisville football bowl game (which they did end up winning) and then headed over to our friends house to watch UFC fights.  UFC is not my favorite but I enjoy the company and Nick is entertained after sitting through hours of Louisville sports in one day.  From the time we left our house to head to the ASU game until we got home from UFC we had 14 hours of sports fun or exhaustion since they next day we both slept in until 10am!  I can't tell you the last time I did that.

December Happenings and Christmas 2013: Just the Two of Us

December came and went before I could even think about it.  I was late on gifts to church friends and neighbors.  I just did not have my act together this year.  Unfortunately December means working long hours and usually getting sick-both of those things happened.  But December also means getting in the spirit for my we really celebrate.

This year I've gotten to be close friends with a neighbor of mine, Casey.  She had never really met a Mormon before and did not know too much.  She has come to a few things and of course I knew I had to invite her and her daughter, Ella to see the Mesa temple lights!  They loved it,  minus the huge crowds.

 The tree finally got up and decorated on Dec 22nd!  Never to late to get in the spirit :)

 Sipping cider, eating treats, relaxing--bring on Christmas

My sister Katherine got engaged the weekend before Christmas.  Everyone is so excited and we all love Jeff and are excited to have him be part of this crazy clan of ours.  I asked Katherine to send me a picture of the ring...and this is what followed!

 Her ring is beautiful.  Right now they are planning on getting married in Louisville over Memorial day weekend in May.  Can't wait.

Christmas morning arrived to my most favorite yearly gift!  This year we decided to go easy and made this our only gift to each other.  We both are in the bad habit of just buying what we want throughout the year within reason and when Christmas rolls around we keep it simple.   Nothing is more simple and perfect than a love note.  Waking up and seeing these cards in the tree is by far my favorite tradition each year.

Breakfast included the annual use of Grandma's waffle maker, scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit, and apple cider.  So yummy.  I sent a text to grandma a picture of me using the waffle maker and she was happy that she passed it down to me.

 We had to continue the Fiet family tradition of going to the movies on Christmas day.  We saw "Saving Mr. Banks".

 One thing about when it is just the two of us for Christmas means it is a day of "selfies"  haha

Love this picture of my Christmas man

One more attempt at a selfie

 We made Christmas dinner reservations and Rustler's Rooste where we have been in the past on Christmas.  Nick got his steak dinner and I had the traditional turkey dinner.

 Gotta love an post dinner sunset with Camelback Mtn in the background

 Gorgeous.  Love these AZ sunset.

We headed to the Mesa, AZ temple after dinner to walk around the grounds and to watch a Christmas performance by the sister missionaries singing hymns.

The reason for the season:

 This statue is new this year on the display in the reflection pool. Beautiful.

Merry Christmas to all of friends and family.  It's hard to believe another Christmas has come and gone.  Grateful for the wonderful time a year to celebrate a birth of a baby over 2000 years ago who sets the perfect example of love, humility, service, charity, and forgiveness.  Hoping in 2014 to emulate those qualities of our Savior even more.

AFDC Office Christmas Party and Work Dress Up!

This year our team had our office party at Dr. Wallin's house.  Now that our team has gotten larger and by the time you add in spouses it isn't any fun to go to a restaurant and only socialize with people sitting across from you at the dinner table.  Their home is beautiful and was decorated perfectly for the occasion. Dinner was catered and we played lots of fun games including a white elephant gift exchange where the doctors provided all the gifts from Sephora.  How could a girl ever choose between keeping or stealing when they were all good?  The night ended as we got showered with Swarovski jewelry and Christmas bonus money to follow.  As much as I have complaints and work stress, this great team and bosses help me forget all the rest!  Have I really been at this office for 7 and a half years already??

The group photo minus Tammy who was sick

I know I post this a lot, but these two other hygienist truly our my right and left arms!  Love them.

 The doctors assistants:  four of the hardest working ladies I know

The front office: Tammy and Macy not pictured sadly

 And really this is how we survive a long day!!

Two days before Christmas we had an office ugly scrub for the back office and ugly sweater contest for the front office.  Being a hygienist makes you have to be somewhat practical, so it was a gross christmas scrub top for the three of us.  I did break out my red scrub pants that I wore on Fridays in hygiene school--I cannot believe how highwater they are!  Have a grown three inches since college or did I just not care back then!  haha :)

Kristina got us all Christmas ornaments that are hygienists.  Too cute.

Vanessa made decorated a plain scrub top and this was the office winner!!  She made herself into an elf. Loved how it turned out.

Kim and Rachelle are pretty much one person.  They knew each other in high school when to dental assisting school together and then both got jobs at our office.  Needless to say that they are a "package deal in all things".  The ornaments they put on their trees have everyones faces from our office on them.  hahaha-so great!

The back of their scrub tops.  I must say I did love that they have a # on it!

All the doctors office assistants

Tirsa, Alli, and me

The front desk...minus Tammy, how is she never in a picture!!

We survived December--this busiest month of the year!!!!  Which is explains why it took me until January to make this post and why I have been sick for a month---too much work! :)

AND....WE MET OUR 2013 GOAL AND OUR OFFICE IS GOING A CRUISE FROM FT. LAUDERDALE TO COZUMEL FOR 5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS IN FEBRUARY!!!!  Hard work pays off!