Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to do a short blog to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!! I hope everyone has an awesome day! Please stay safe and try to remember what it is all about!
The Rounds family will be gone for the week, so I will post some fun pictures when we get back. We get to go to our anual Christmas trip. We are all extremely excited to go. We are headed to Idaho to Lava Hot Springs. Our wonderful Grandma has paid for this old school house for us to stay in, with a huge gym to play in. We love it there and have soo much fun!
Thanks everyone for all you have done this year! We love and appreciate all the support you give us! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Christmas Survey

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? BOTH ARE DELICIOUS SO IT'S TOUGH TO PICK. I DRINK A LOT MORE HOT CHOCOLATE SO I GUESS I BETTER GO WITH THAT.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them udNer the tree? SANTA IS A PRETTY VERSITILE GUY SO HE'LL WRAP SOME PRESENTS AND THEN OTHERS HE'LL LEAVE OUT IN THE OPEN.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I THINK THE WHITE LIGHTS ARE A LOT MORE COMFORTING... AND THE COLORED LIGHTS ARE MORE FUN. I PREFER THE WHITE ONES.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? NO... NO I DO NOT.
5. When do you put your decorations up? ANY TIME AFTER THANKSGIVING IS ACCEPTABLE. I'M BIG ON WAITING FOR ONE HOLIDAY TO BE OVER BEFORE STARTING ANOTHER ONE. ALYSSA DOES A GOOD JOB AT DECORATING THE HOUSE AND I HELP WITH THE TREE.
6. Your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? WELL DESSERT IS WHAT THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALL ABOUT SO THIS QUESTION BUGS ME. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY I LIKE PIE!! OH WAIT... NO DESSERTS! THAT'S DUMB. WELL... I'LL HAVE TO GO WITH.... PIE!
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD MEMORIES ABOUT CHRISTMAS WHEN I WAS A KID. I REMEMBER ONE CHRISTMAS WHEN RYAN CONVENIENTLY LEFT THE ROOM EARLY AND THEN I COULD HEAR HIM AND MY DAD DRAGGING SOMETHING OUTSIDE THE WINDOW. AND THE NEXT DAY THERE WAS A BIG PING PONG TABLE FROM SANTA. RYAN ALWAYS GOT TO HELP WITH THINGS LIKE THAT. I USED TO LOVE GETTING EVERYBODY THE BEST PRESENT I COULD THINK OF, AND I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE THEM OPEN IT. LESLEE (MY SISTER) TYPICALLY GOT A MAKE-UP KIT OF SOME KIND FROM ME. I'M SURE SHE GOT TIRED OF THOSE BUT SHE JUST REALLY LIKED MAKE-UP. AT LEAST I THOUGHT SO.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? IN 5TH GRADE THEY HAD A SURVEY IN CLASS TO SEE WHO BELIEVED IN SANTA AND 95% OF THE KIDS SAID THEY DIDN'T. THE TEACHER ALSO DIDN'T BELIEVE SO I FELT PRETTY GAY THAT IT TOOK ME THAT LONG TO FIGURE IT OUT.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? ALYSSA AND I ARE BUSY VISITING OUR FAMILIES ON CHRISTMAS SO WE'VE OPENED PRESENTS FROM EACH OTHER ON CHRISTMAS EVE. WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNTIL WE HAVE KIDS OF OUR OWN I THINK.
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? I GUESS I RIPPED SANTA OFF BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER LEAVING HIM ANYTHING. OH WELL!
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I LOVE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT SNOW. THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN SNOW ON CHRISTMAS EVE OR CHRISTMAS DAY. IT ALSO MAKES THE MOUNTAINS AND EVERYTHING ELSE REALLY PRETTY. I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN IT'S A FROZEN PILE OF DIRT SNOW THAT TAKES 3 MONTHS TO MELT. FRESH SNOW IS WHERE IT'S AT.
12. Can you ice skate? I CAN GET BY. I'M NOT THE GREATEST ICE SKATER, BUT I CAN GET AROUND WITHOUT FALLING.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? MY WEIGHT SET WAS REALLY AWESOME, AND MY SKIIS WERE COOL TOO. I REMEMBER GETTING A JOHN STOCKTON PLAQUE FROM CASANDRA. I STILL HAVE THAT.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? I TRY TO JUST RELAX AND ENJOY THE TIME WITH FAMILY. A LOT OF PEOPLE STRESS OUT AND DON'T EJOY IT AS MUCH AS THEY COULD. I JUST LIKE TO ROLL ALONG AND TRY TO BE HAPPY.
(I lost #15)
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? THE TRIP AFTER CHRISTMAS IS THE BEST! WE GET TO TRY OUT ALL OUR NEW GAMES AND SPEND TIME WITH THE FAMILY. YOU CAN DO... OR NOT DO WHATEVER YOU WANT FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND NOT WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. IT'S PROBABLY MY FAVORITE FEW DAYS OF THE YEAR.
17. What tops your tree? THE TOP OF THE TREE TOPS OUR TREE. I DON'T THINK A TOPPER IS NECESSARY. I THINK A LOT OF TOPPERS ARE THE UGLIEST PART OF THE ENTIRE TREE. SOME ARE NICE I GUESS.
18. Which do you prefer? Giving or Receiving? GIVING IS BETTER... BUT IT'S NOT AS FUN AS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. I USED TO SAVE UP AND GET PEOPLE A PRETTY NICE GIFT, AND NOW WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THAT FOR EVERYBODY. SO IT'S NOT QUITE AS EXCITING BUT STILL FUN. I DON'T MIND RECEIVING GIFTS EITHER THOUGH.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? I DON'T LIKE CHRISTMAS CAROLS OR CHRISTMAS MUSIC RIGHT NOW. JUST COME SIT AT AMERICA FIRST FOR A FEW HOURS AND YOU'LL FEEL THE SAME WAY. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH VARIETY WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC. IF I HAD TO PICK I'D SAY... CARTMAN SINGING "OH HOLY NIGHT."
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? CANDY CANES ARE PRETTY GOOD. I ALWAYS SUCK ON THEM UNTIL I HAVE A SHARP END. NOT SURE WHY BUT THAT'S JUST HOW I EAT THEM.
21. favorite christmas movie? IT'S HANDS DOWN CHRISTMAS VACATION. THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES EVER!
22. How many plates of goodies have you given out this year? ZERO!
23. Christmas Ham or Turkey? I WILL TAKE A SPIRAL HONEY HAM. HAM HAS GOT TO BE COOKED RIGHT FOR IT TO TASTE GOOD THOUGH. I DON'T LIKE RUBBER HAM THAT FLOPS AROUND ON MY PLATE. IT'S GOT TO BE COOKED ALL THE WAY OR I DON'T WANT IT.
24. Favorite holiday dessert? PIE!
25. When do you take down Christmas decorations? RIGHT AFTER THE NEW YEAR. I DON'T LIKE THAT STUFF BEING UP ANY LONGER. LUCKY FOR ME ALYSSA IS THE SAME WAY SO THERE'S NOT PROBLEMS THERE.

Logan Temple

Last Saturday (Dec. 13th) we had the chance to go watch Steven's cousin Brianne get sealed to Carl in the Logan Temple. It was freezing, and a scary drive, but it was over all a nice, fun time.

Brianne and Carl




The two handsome brothers.. Ryan and Steven

Steven and I at the temple

Leslee (Sis-In-Law) and I freezing our butts off

This picture makes me laugh.. if you know Raymond (the proud father) you would laugh too!

I didn't take too many pictures because it was freezing!! I hope to get a group picture one of these days! Make sure and read my other post from today!

Christmas Survey Fun!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? WELL THIS ONE IS EASY.. HOT CHOCOLATE ALL THE WAY.. IM PRETTY SURE EGG NOG IS THE GROSSEST THING EVER!
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them udNer the tree? OH MOST DEFINITELY!! SANTA IS SOO NICE HE GOES TO MY PARENTS, AND STEVEN'S PARENTS FOR US!
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? TREE'S I LIKE WHITE LIGHTS, HOUSES I LIKE MULTI COLORED!
4. Do you hang mistletoe? NO, BUT I TOTALLY SHOULD!
5. When do you put your decorations up? I TRY TO THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING WITH STEVENS HELP!
6. Your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO MY MOM'S CHRISTMAS BRUNCH.. SO PROB BACON AND EGGS!!
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? EVERY YEAR WE WOULD GO DOWN TO MY BIG BROTHERS ROOM AND STAY UP AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES OR WATCH A MOVIE AND THEN FALL ASLEEP.. OF COURSE WE DIDNT REALLY FALL ASLEEP WE JUST LAYED THERE BECAUSE WE WERE SOO EXCITED.. AND EVERY YEAR I WOULD SNEAK UP STAIRS TO SEE WHAT SANTA BROUGHT ME!! (WE ALWAYS GOT ONE BIG PRESENT FROM SANTA!)
NOW A DAYS MY FAVORITE MEMORIES ARE ONE.. GOING TO SEE THE TEMPLE LIGHTS WITH MY FAMILY AND WE USUALLY STAY IN SLC AND PLAY GAMES AND EAT TREATS ALL NIGHT (THIS WEEKEND!!) AND ALSO SPENDING CHRISTMAS EVE NIGHT AT STEVEN'S PARENTS WITH HIS FAMILY WATCHING CLAYMATION.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER.. I AM THE YOUNGEST CHILD SO IM SURE MY BROTHER RUINED IT FOR ME WHEN I WAS PRETTY YOUNG. I LIKE TO STILL BELIEVE IN HIM THOUGH! :)
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? WE ALWAYS OPEN ONE PRESENT AT MY PARENTS HOUSE (USUALLY PJ'S) AND NOW THAT WE ARE MARRIED.. WE OPEN ALL OUR PRESENTS FOR EACH OTHER ON CHRISTMAS EVE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT HOME AT ALL ON CHRISTMAS! I LIKE THIS TRADITION AND THINK ITS FUN.
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? SANTA DOESN'T GET ANY TREATS FROM OUR HOUSE! SORRY SANTA! BUT HE USED TO GET OREO'S AND MILK.. MY DAD.. I MEAN, SANTA'S FAVORITE COOKIES!
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I WASNT TOO EXCITED WHEN WE GOT SNOW THE OTHER DAY, BUT I AM NOW HAPPY ITS HERE..
12. Can you ice skate? I CAN GET ON THE ICE AND MOVE AROUND.. IF THAT COUNTS..I HAVEN'T REALLY TRIED TO SKATE IN YEARS.. SO I DONT KNOW?!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? ANY BIG GIFT FROM SANTA WAS ALWAYS PRETTY AMAZING.. LIKE SKII'S, SNOWBOARD, CUDDLEBAG, STEREO'S.. STUFF LIKE THAT.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS BEING WITH OUR FAMILIES.. THAT IS WHAT I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE THAN ANYTHING!
(I lost #15)
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I LOVE THE WHOLE VACATION AFTER CHRISTMAS TRADITION THAT GMA DORIS DOES FOR US.. THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THEN THAT! I ALSO REALLY ENJOY CHRISTMAS EVE WITH BOTH FAMILIES.
17. What tops your tree? SADLY NOTHING.. HA HA.. WE HAVE NEVER HAD A TREE TOPPER SINCE WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED.. I GUESS WE SHOULD GO GET ONE! I WOULD LIKE MORONI ON OURS..
18. Which do you prefer? Giving or Receiving? I REALLY REALLY ENJOY GIVING PRESENTS!! THAT IS MY MAJOR DOWNFALL AT CHRISTMAS.. CAUSE I SPEND WAY TOO MUCH ON PEOPLE (ESPECIALLY STEVEN) BECAUSE I GET AN AWESOME RUSH KNOWING HOW MUCH HE WILL LOVE IT! OF COURSE I LOVE GETTING PRESENTS.. DONT GET ME WRONG! BUT GIVING IS MY FAVORITE!
19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? MY PARENTS HAVE THIS CD.. NOT SURE WHO ITS BY.. BUT ITS A RELIGIOUS ONE AND I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING IT.. IT GETS ME IN THE MOOD OF WHAT CHRISTMAS IS REALLY ABOUT.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? PRETTY DELICIOUS NOW A DAYS.. THEY ARE COMING UP WITH SOME AMAZING CANDY CANES!
21. FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE? HMM.. PROBABLY CLAYMATION CHRISTMAS.. BECAUSE I KNOW AFTER THAT ITS TIME TO SLEEP AND WAKE UP TO OPEN PRESENTS!! I ALSO REALLY LIKE FRED CLAUSE!
22. How many plates of goodies have you given out this year? WELL.. THAT IS MY DOWNFALL THIS YEAR.. I HAVEN'T REALLY MADE ANY..
23. Christmas Ham or Turkey? HAM.. TURKEY IS FOR THANKSGIVING AND BY THE TIME CHRISTMAS COMES ALONG I AM SO SICK OF TURKEY I COULD BARF!
24. Favorite holiday dessert? ALL! HA HA.. I LOVE THE CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZELS!
25. When do you take down Christmas decorations? USUALLY NEW YEARS DAY.. I HAVE THIS MAJOR PET PEEVE THAT LIGHTS AND STUFF SHOULD NOT BE ON AFTER THE 2ND DAY OF JANUARY!

Well that was fun!! You are more then welcome to steal this survey just like I did from Rachel! I hope everyone is doing well and not getting sick!! I will be posting again soon so come back and check it!! If I don't see you before Christmas.. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

COACHING

Many of you know that I'm planning on teaching high school Physical Education & Health classes. I'm still a few years away from getting to that point but I still think about it all the time. I'm also planning on coaching some high school sports.
I love to PLAY sports and watch sports, so I figure this a great career for me. I wonder what it will really be like when I finally get there. I'm sure there are politics and other B.S. that I will hate dealing with.

My biggest concern is just my competative nature in general. I hate to lose, and I hate when people aren't giving 100% when it comes to sports. I can handle a little joking around and stuff when it's just a game of pick-up basketball or something, but if it's a league or a serious game I don't have patience for screw offs. I'm probably going to have to realize that not everybody cares as much about winning, and some people are just playing to "have fun." To me winning is fun, and playing a hard fought game is fun. I'm the kid that cried every time I lost at something. I cried when I lost at cards, basketball, soccer, or video games! I still feel like crying sometimes as a full grown adult when I lose a tough game, but I don't wanna be a weiner!

I figure that kids in High School are all pretty competative or they wouldn't be trying to make the team. I guess I'll find out when I get there. It's going to be tough for me if I have teams that don't play their hardest. I don't wanna be the crazy coach that yells and screams so much that the players hate me and don't wanna play for me. On the other hand I can't be the guy that lets kids screw around and walk on me, or they won't listen to me.

I also worry about strategy and coaching tactics. I have played a lot of sports but I've never been the one making all the decisions like what defense to play. I've also never had set plays or anything like that in basketball so that will be something I'll have to develop. I'll have to come up with a philosophy on those types of things. It will probably take me a while to learn all that stuff but I'm excited to give it a try and see how things go.

It's Christmas time.. in the city...

Well.. we have been very busy and I have been sick, so that would be my excuse of not blogging for awhile. So I'm sorry! Things are going pretty well over in our neck of the woods.. We finished school last week, and we are both extremely relieved!! We both have confidence that we will pass our classes with flying colors! But we will continue to cross our fingers until we get our grades! The next semester starts Jan 5.. so it's not much break for us, but we aren't complaining! For those of you that don't know.. we did not get accepted into the Education program. We did well in our interviews and test.. but didn't have good enough grades.. so we are going to bump the grades up, and try again! I was pretty bummed at first, but now I am just trying to get in before I'm 40! ha ha..
Work is going okay for us.. Steven finally has someone he likes to work with at America First and is excited to start working with him. This makes me happier because then Steven isn't hating work! So thats good! As for me.. its going okay.. its still new, and I hate being new, but over all its good. They are very laid back and let me leave and come when I need. They also work well with my crazy school schedules, so I will not complain.
Well I have had a hard time getting completely into the Christmas spirit, and it really makes me sad!! I look forward to Christmas soo much, and this year I am sick! I am stubborn and didn't go to the doctor until today. I come to find out that not only do I have a bad sinus infection, but now I have bronchitis! Thats great! So I have been sick since Thanksgiving..and now I am going to still be sick for Christmas! Luckily I now have some antibiotics and cough stuff to help me.. So I am really hoping that I will start to feel better! But it does suck to be sick right now! All I wanna do is go hang up my Christmas lights and go see all my friends! So sorry if I am ignoring you.. I don't mean to!
Steven and I are ready for Christmas (as much as we can be!) I think I am done with his Christmas and I am sooo excited to give them to him! I think he will be thrilled with everything! I can not wait!! I am also extremely excited for our annual after Christmas vacation! Its going to be a blast! I get to see Casandra, Dan, Dalin, and Braden! I am also excited for this weekend because we are going to see the Temple lights and also stay in a condo across from the Conference Center! We are gonna play games, and eat all night! Wahoo!! Megan's friend from Iowa is coming to join us. So that will be fun!
Well I wont bore you anymore! I will blog again this week with some pictures of Brianne and Carl's wedding last sat (our cousin). Hope everyone is doing well and having a good Christmas season!

Christmas time!

I realize that Christmas is still a few weeks off, but the closer it gets the more I think about all the fun times. There are so many things that are fun around the holidays so I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things about Christmas time.

1- School will be out in a week and that's enough to change my mood just by itself. Next Wednesday I will take my last final and then I'll be done with yet another stress-filled semester at Weber Rape University. I just hope that I pass all my classes so I don't have to take any of them over again. Also, if I get a 3.0 or better I'll be allowed into the Education Department without having to interview or write another andmission paper. So I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping everything goes smoothly. Either way I get a break and I'll be sure to spend it watching Christmas movies, playing games, and being around family more.

2- Christmas decorations is another aspect of Christmas that I really enjoy. Alyssa and I both love just sitting in the living room and staring at the Christmas tree. There's something relaxing about a Christmas tree and I can't explain it. It will be fun to see a few presents stacked under the tree and the excitement will build. Hopefully this year Jimmy is mature enough and well behaved enough to know NOT to urinate all over the presents. The last two years we've had to rewrap gifts because Jimmy can't control himself. All those new scents in the house just drive him crazy I guess. Dumb dog!

3- Christmas day is the best day of the year. It's fun to watch everybody open their presents and people are smiling all day for the most part. I love playing games and just relaxing and having a good time and Christmas is the best day to do that! It's even better if it snows that day. Something about snow on Christmas day just adds to the feel. Of course last year there was so much snow we almost wrecked and slid off the road on the way to Alyssa's parent's house. Luckily I was able to avoid the car in front of us and miss the curb. Usually snow is great on Christmas Day.

4- My family has an after Christmas tradition and it's a lot of fun. We always take a little trip for a few days right after Christmas and it's so much fun. It started out going to camp Lamondi and it's progressed from there. A few of the trips include: Crystal Hot Springs, Camp Lamondi, Snow Mobiling in Yellowstone (I missed that one due to a mission... sad I know), Renting a nice cabin and Snowmobiling Wolf Creek area, Lava Hot Springs. And this year we're going to Lava Hot Springs again because we all enjoyed that last year. There's a little school that's been turned into a hotelish thing and we stay there. It has a gym and kitchen so it's a blast. My Grandma Doris Rounds is generous and pays for a lot of these trips so that's awesome of her. This is a tradition I hope we keep going.

There are some extra stresses that come along with the holidays. Like trying to keep the time spent at each family as even as possible. Trying not to blow too much money. Trying to find a dog sitter for our dog Jimmy while we go on our trip (if you're free let me know. He's a great dog)! All of these little things aren't really worth stressing about so I'm just gonna relax and enjoy the holiday season. It came so fast again I can hardly believe it.