Merry Christmas! 2016

What a Christmas this was!  Every year I get SOO excited for Christmas! I literally can barely contain myself.  A little fun fact about Jessica:  Whenever I get super excited, I get a little bit of anxiety.  I can feel my heart start to race and I literally will close my eyes and make this high pitched noise.  Devin calls it my excited squeal.  So I was super squealy the week of Christmas.  The fun thing for me this Christmas was I had absolutely NO idea what I was getting for Christmas from Devin.  He was able to keep it a total secret! Devin wasn’t so lucky.  I was only able to keep one of his gifts a secret.  I have a really hard time keeping secrets from Devin.  In regular situations, that is a good thing.  For Christmas and birthdays, that’s not very cool.. 

Jason, Jessica and Lindsie

Christmas Eve we woke up and Devin and I cooked a really delicious breakfast casserole.  It had ground sausage covered with a cheese, egg and milk mixture, topped with seasoned tater tots.  I really thought it would be kind of greasy from all the cheese, but it was surprisingly pretty healthy looking – and it tasted SO good!  Holy Jingle Bells! It was divine.   Devin’s grandma Shirley came over for a “breakfast for lunch”.  We had crumbly toast and bacon.  Again, divine.  We watched “Singing with Angels”.  It’s an LDS movie about a lady in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  Wasn’t as Christmas-y as I would have liked, but it was still a really beautiful, spiritual movie.  Later we went and hung out with my family for a little while. 

Angie, Brandon, Devin and Jessica

Christmas Eve night Devin pulled our mattress off of our bed and moved it into the family room.  We were sleeping by the Christmas tree!  How exciting!! :)  Devin said that once we have kids we won’t be able to sleep out there for fear that Santa wouldn’t come for the children, so why not make it an “us” memory!  He’s just so thoughtful I can’t even stand it.  *heart eyes*

Dev and I were up at 5:15.  Haha, uh..I’m still a little kid at heart and I really was just so excited (and still squealing) over the fact that Christmas was finally here.  I was really trying my hardest to be an adult so I laid back down and tried to go back to bed until at least 6:00.  As soon as it was 6:00, D jumped off the mattress and ran upstairs to see if we got any snow.  Boy did we ever!  Another white Christmas for the books!  He came running down stairs saying it was time to open presents!  It literally took us from 6:00 to 6:26.  TWENTY SIX MINUTES PEOPLE.  UGH. 

This year we were truly blessed to have Christmas on Sunday.  What a special day! Spending the day where we celebrate our Savior’s birth, at church! Ah! My mom-in-law played a beautiful piano solo and it was just so perfect.

When we got home we opened gifts with Devin’s parents.  We had lunch with his family which was also divine.  I seriously just love food.  So freaking much.  It’s becoming a problem.  After we headed on over to my parent’s house.  Again, so much food. 

I was literally so spoiled this Christmas!  I got photo shop, lazy one slippers, water proof speaker, turkey baster, bowls, whisks, make up brushes, an apron, a new tripod, windshield cover, perfume, wireless charger (usb), Yoshi’s Wooley World, a Yoshi Amiibo, clothes..the list goes on!  Devins big present that he got this year is an electric smoker!  I’m so excited for him to start smoking some meats!  He also got a new wooden watch, a Nintendo NES classic, clothes, and I surprised him with a steak brander.  It’s a moose.  Now whenever I want a steak, he can brand a cute little moose into it.  What a blessed Christmas we got to experience this year.

Devin and his smoker

Also, we bought both of our families “Bean Boozled”.  Have you ever freaking played that game?  Google it.  Actually..just click here.  Either way.  GROSS.  Devin and Lindsie got canned dog food one time, and Miga wouldn't even eat it.  She went and hid under the table because her owners were being mean.  Eventually she came out.  With the help of normal human food. :) 

Devin got to open one of his presents a little early this year.  On December 6^th D got a new snowmobile!! It’s a 2007 Polaris and it runs like a champ!  Since it snowed so much on Christmas morning, of course we had to take it out of the shed and take her for a spin.  I got my snowmobile all cleaned up and ready for our next ride.

Sunshine and Night Rider

So in other news..Carrie Fisher died this week.  I was super sad about that.  I just barely got into Star Wars and she dies.  I may or may not have cried..  I loved Princess Leia!  Carrie’s mom, Debbie Reynolds, passed away 1 day later. 

RIP Princess Leia <3

I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ.  For the sacrifice that he made for me and for my family.  I feel so blessed to celebrate his birth and to be able to give as he did.  Nothing that I give will ever compare to what he gave me, but I know if I try my best to be as he was, that will be enough. 

Hope that everyone had a great Christmas and that y’all will have a safe and Happy New Year! 

Holidays 2016

Thanksgiving this year we went to Idaho.  How funny huh.  We just move back only to go there for Thanksgiving.  It was really nice to have Thanksgiving with the Jackson side this time.  I haven’t been with them since 2010.  Do you realize that was before I even moved to Mexico?! HOLY TOLEDO.  My parents have gone up, but one of the years we were supposed to go up there D and I were married and just decided to stay home and enjoy the holiday in good ol’ Cache Valley.  We actually went up Thanksgiving day.  Allie and Sean rode with us and we left bright and early.  Ok it was really only like 8 AM but that’s still early considering I wasn’t going to work.  Since my dad’s side of the family is so big, we rented out the civic center in Roberts.  There was plenty of room for everyone to eat.  This year was a little bit different.  Since we weren’t at my grandparents’ house, after we ate, everyone just kind of disappeared.  It wasn’t like Thanksgiving’s past.  We went and chilled at grandma and grandpa’s and watched the Cowboys beat the Redskins.  My aunt and uncle are living with grandma and grandpa while they build a house, so we didn’t sleep there this time.  We got a hotel in Idaho Falls.  We went swimming and then off to bed it was.  We got up at 5:30 the next morning to go BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING!! Man oh man do I love to shop!  The biggest deal that I found was a smoker.  I bought my husband a nice electric smoker for Christmas this year. (Don’t worry.  He already knows about it.) It was on a KILLER deal! He’s been looking at one for a while now, so he decided to finally jump on that wagon and I’m super excited to have him smoke some delicious meals.  Also, my mother decided to dress us.  Do you know how moms dress their girls when the have the opportunity of doing so?  Matching.  We all freaking matched.  Red ugly sweaters that were actually pretty cute. 

We went back to grandma and grandpas to chill then back to the hotel to swim.  The next morning we checked out and then went back to Roberts to watch the Ohio St vs Michigan.  Ohio St won in double overtime.  It was actually a pretty good game.  I fell asleep during the 4^th quarter and woke up to people in the house yelling during overtimes.  After the game we headed on home!

As soon as we got home, Devin helped me put our tree up! We were so tired though, we didn’t get it decorated until the next day.  I love my tree.  Yay for Walmart buys!  We celebrated Devin’s grandmothers and mom’s birthday pretty much right after Thanksgiving.  We went to Texas Roadhouse.  Couple of days later we were supposed to go to the Jazz vs. Warriors game in SLC.  Devin was sooo sick though. L  I felt so bad.  I bought him the lower bowl tickets for our anniversary back in October.  We made it all the way to the train station in Ogden but I finally made him turn around and come home.  He had a fever, sore throat and I just knew that he would be miserable.  My poor love bug! He went home, turned the game on and then fell asleep.   The next weekend, we had a little family party.  I got to see my aunt Shelly and Uncle Jared and their kids.  There is always such good food!  I made my “famous” (all my family loves it!) Loaded Baked Potato Dip. Recipe is below.

We did make it down to Temple Square this year too!  The lights were BEAUTIFUL!! I loved it.  I have a hard time around the holidays trying to enjoy it.  But going to Temple Square just days before Christmas really helped.  When I was little, going and sitting on Santa’s lap, wrapping all these presents and putting reindeer food on the roof of the house on Christmas Eve was what it was all about.  Now that I am older I truly understand the meaning of Christmas.  Going to the temple even to just look at the lights was the perfect way for me to bring Christ into my Christmas. 

Meet Devin

I’ve been contemplating that last couple of days on what to write next.  I’ve written posts about how D and I met, my life in Mexico, how grateful I am for Devin, events that go on in our lives and I’ve even done my first movie review.  Today I think I am going to actually write about Devin.  Let you get to know him a little bit more.

Devin William Fabricius was born March 25, 1991.  He is the youngest of 2 kids.  When he was little he was all boy.  He loved playing outside, playing video games – I can’t even tell you how many times he’s broken a bone.  He had a Springer Spaniel named Brindy and another one named Diamond.  He loved them both so much.  It’s so fun to hear stories about his dogs, since usually stories told are about cattle.  He used to ride his scooter off of jumps, (even jumped over a line of kids from what I’ve been told) loves being on the family farm, and fell in love with snowmobiling at a very young age.  In fact, he just bought a sled!! 2007 Polaris.  He is in love with it.  Originally he didn’t even want to go and look at it.  He asked me what he should do and I said if he has even a tiny bit of interest in it, we can at least go and look at it.  Well… I now am part owner of a new sled lol.  He loves Aggies sports.  (even though he might be a little upset with them right now..)  He graduated in Spring 2015 from Utah State University.  He majored in Business Administration and Marketing.  He was a part of Beta Sigma Gamma. In order to be a part of Beta Sigma Gamma, D had to be in either the top 7% of the junior class, top 10% of the senior class or the top 20% of the Master’s program.  When Devin received this award, he was in the 7% of the junior class. 

Devin LOVES football!! His favorite teams are the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks.  He really likes Denver Broncos too.  He HATES the New England Patriots and Alabama.  Also, he hates anything BYU.  His favorite college teams are USU, Oregon and any underdog.  Really, unless Alabama, Ohio State, New England Patriots and BYU are playing..he’s  pretty open to a good football game.  In 2014, we went to Denver and we were able to tour the Mile High Stadium.  He was in heaven.  We’re planning on going back to watch a game there (least expensive to travel to..) but hopefully we will be able to see many more football arenas. 

D was really into basketball right before he went on his mission.  He LOVED USU basketball.  Back before they started to suck..  He gets into March Madness every year.  He loves watching NBA too.  (When football season is over.)  He likes the Jazz.  He hates the Spurs and Cavaliers.  He used to really like LeBron James..but then he got cocky.  After he got home from his mission is when he really started to get into football. 

When it comes to food – Devin loves to eat.  He hates fish.  He is always saying “if it swims in the sea, it’s not for me!” haha!  He loves his moms lasagna and Cheetos.  One of his favorite soda pops is the Shasta Raspberry Crème.  In the winter, he really loves my loaded baked potato soup.  In the summer, this sweet boy LOVES grilling!! He makes the BEST hamburgers and steaks.  Oh my gosh, nothing can compare.  Believe me, I’ve tried!  Even when it’s not grilling, Devin is a very, very good cook.  I love cooking…but somehow his food is usually better. .  Life with Devin has been incredible.  I learn more about him every single day.  Every time I think about not being married to him, I literally cry.  I can’t image my life without this Cheeto loving, cattle herding, snowmobile riding man!