New Experiences

Being from a family of all girls has opened up many new opportunities as I married into a family of all boys. On Tuesday, Matt took the day off work and we went ice fishing with his parents. Now, I would never have done this had I not just bought Matt an ice fishing tent (so it wouldn't be as freezing) and known there would be heaters inside the tent. Being warm is just more important than catching fish. So we went up and set up our tent, and for four hours, we caught fish. It was pretty fun. Yes it was still a little cold, I still had on all my snow gear inside the tent with both heaters running, but we were comfortable. I was a little nervous about standing on the ice, and drilling hole in it, but we were safe. I was surprised at how many fish we caught. It was also super fun to watch the fish swim around under the water on Matt's underwater camera. You could see them swim right past your bait, or be ready when they started nibbling. All in all, it was a fun experience, one of the many new things I have done in the past six months that I have enjoyed.
Mr. Jigger and our hole (I don't know why this is sideways...sorry)

Diet and Myrna showing off one of their fish

Matt and I outside the tent (of course it was snowing outside when we were ready to go!)

Matt knew if he really put his lips on that fish that he would be waiting a long time to kiss me again

The Christmas Marathon

December 23:
My dad has a new tradition he is starting for the night before Christmas Eve. We all got together and made our own pizzas with Denise, and then we helped decorate one of my dad's Christmas trees with all the ornaments we got together on our cruise last year. It was fun to look at all the ornaments and remember where we got each one. Then we took a few family pictures and set out on our crazy adventure! Roberts craft store was having a 75% off sale on everything Christmas. Each person in our family (Dad, Alex, Cassie, and me and Matt) gets to pick a decoration of some kind for themselves and everyone else in the family (so you buy 4 things, one for yourself and three to give away). Matt and I got some cool Christmas plates. The idea is to buy decorations for each other to use in upcoming years, and for my sisters to have when they get married. My dad went way crazy buying decorations and fake trees, who can blame him-everything was way cheap. We even had to go out to another store to pick up more stuff. Let's just say, you know things are getting a little crazy when Matt and my dad are calling each other "Honey" around the store. Good memories. We were going to decorate cookies when we got back, but it was a little late and Matt and I were beat, so we went home. I'm excited for all the new traditions!





Christmas Eve:
On Christmas Eve, we spent the evening with the Fischer family. Our new family tradition is to go bowling and have take-and-bake pizza when we get home before we open presents and all that jazz. Bowling was way fun, although I'm not a hard core bowler and was tired after my two games. Last year when we were bowling, there was a family who all wore ugly Christmas sweaters (they were there again this year... must be their tradition too) and Matt and I wanted to do something so we got sweet knee-high socks and wore those. Matt's dad and brothers were a little embarrassed to walk around Sportsmans with him, but he didn't care. Randy made a DVD of the year's events and it was really fun to watch that while the kids were playing with Nanny and Papa. I wish I was as talented as Randy! Of course it was fun to give presents and open everything, especially watching as Brad and Claire opened their huge presents, but the best part of the night was just being together. I'm so glad to be part of a family that loves each other as much as the Fischers do. I love you guys!


Matt and I did all our gifts to each other after we left the Fischer family party. It was fun to sit in the light of the Christmas tree and open presents together, then play Tetris and old school Mario on our wii. It was such a fun first Christmas together.

Christmas day:
We got up early and headed out to my mom's house for presents and sticky buns (yummmmmm). Matt was so excited for his Mr. Jigger, and my mom was pretty happy about her first experience shopping at Cabelas. When you have all daughters, you don't get to do that kind of stuff! I got Photoshop Elements for my computer so I can start making digital scrapbooks and I am excited! I still am trying to figure out how to make everything cute, so if you know how, let me know! (Kendra that means YOU) Matt commented on how calm Christmas morning is at my mom's house, which it totally is. We had hot chocolate, listened to Christmas music and had the fire going while we opened presents. It was so nice. Then we went over to my dad's house for breakfast and more presents. We got spoiled this year for sure. My dad got us our armoire to go with our bedroom set, along with some other fun stuff. Then we ate homemade scones and just hung around. Matt and I took a little nap before heading out to Grandma and Grandpa Norton's house. Then we headed back out to my mom's house for dinner with the whole Decker crew and just messing around together. We had such a fun day. We were exhausted, but it was worth it.

Update Your Address Books

My new email address is torifischer@hotmail.com. I tried to email everyone, but if you didn't get an email, update me in your address books!

Forgotten Carols

For the past couple years, my dad and I have had a little Christmas tradition to go see the Forgotten Carols show. Of course, Matt had to come this year and my dad also got tickets for Cassie, my grandma and grandpa Norton, and my cousin Holly and her husband Dallin. I LOVE the music and the whole experience. I always leave feeling the wonderful spirit of Christmas, and usually crying, although this year I didn't cry... that much. We had great seats, really close up, and that made it even better. Matt was a little bummed he had to miss the Jazz game, and also didn't really think the humor was that funny, but he was still a good sport and didn't complain. He even said that he liked it. Well he said the music was good. Thanks dad for a fun experience. If I knew how to put music on this post for you to listen to, I would put some of the songs from the show, but since I don't know how to do that, you will just have to look them up yourselves.

Matt and I couldn't resist our usual cheesy smiles

Matt's Early Christmas Present

Matt, being who he is, was so excited for his early Christmas present. He was at Sportsman's and wanted to go in on a new ice fishing tent with Lance and Tim. He called me to ask if it was okay, and I figured since I still needed to finish his Christmas shopping that I would just tell him to buy it as his early Christmas present. He was so excited! Of course he had to tell me he loved me about a million times that night, and of course he had to set it up in our front room. Our front room could barely contain this tent, as you will see in the video. Of course, he had to take it over to his parent's house and set it up for them to see, and then set it up again when Timmy came over. I don't think I ever need to have children with Matt around. I totally saw how kids are so excited on Christmas morning in Matt's eyes that day he brought his new ice fishing tent home. He is actually gone today to test it out. He sent me a picture of a fish he caught and I will not put it on the blog because it is disgusting! I guess one of these days I'll have to go up and see how this whole ice fishing thing works. But only if I have on a lot of warm clothes and a really good book and a really good heater!

Matt and Timmy setting up the tent in our front room

Graduation!

On December 12, 2009, I officially graduated from Utah State University with my bachelor's degree in elementary education! It is official now... I am a licensed teacher! What a special experience. I wasn't very excited about graduating until I got there and walked through the tunnel into the Spectrum, where the walls of the tunnel were lined with USU professors clapping and smiling. I got all choked up with emotion. I felt like I was truly joining the ranks of other Utah State alumni who were excited and proud of my accomplishment, and the accomplishments of the other 1,900 students graduating.

After the ceremony, the band played the Scotsman and everyone stood and participated in the school song. I was filled with so much school pride. I loved every minute of being an Aggie. There's just something special about a school where 15,000 people will stand up and pretend to milk a giant cow at basketball games. I am so glad I was able to complete my education through the many challenges that I have gone through over the past 3 and a half years.

My roommate Jenni also graduated in the College of Education, although not Elementary Ed. Now, she is going to grad school at USU to get her Master's degree in physical therapy (or something close... I can never remember the real name! Sorry Jen!). While I love being married, I miss my cute roommates and all the fun times we had. Like the time when we saw Jeana holding hands with Marc (it was a big deal), or the time that Natalie and I bought a Valentine's card for Jenni and it happened to be the same one her boyfriend got her! Or the many, many boys in and out of our apartment at late hours... ("we were reading a book..."), and the hours of not studying or writing essays at 4:00 in the morning for your 7:30 class... okay that was me. I miss all those girls so much!

There it is! My name in the program!

Thank you Matt for supporting me as I finished my education. I know Matt was excited to be able to get back into school now that I am finished, but it was so wonderful to see how proud he is of my accomplishment. It makes it all worth it.

My mom and Jeff, my dad, my grandma and papa Decker, Diet and Myrna, and Randy were all able to come to the ceremony to support me. I was so happy to see them all up there, cheering as they read out my name and I walked up to take my pretend diploma (I won't get the real thing until like February!). Thank you so much for your support, and everyone who couldn't make it but was supporting me through the process.
After the ceremony, we met Jenny and the kids at Olive Garden with about a thousand other graduates and their families. We waited forever to get our table, which of course brought out some grumpy Fischers! Finally, we got seated and had a fun meal together. The waiter dumped water all over my papa and, being as cute as he is, he just laughed! Needless to say, the restaurant gave us a few free goodies that afternoon. Then, sadly, we had to go home through the winter storm raging in Logan. It felt so normal driving in a blizzard through Sardine Canyon. I should have worn my snow boots as I graduated to really represent my experience at Utah State!

This Week's Schedule

I am very excited for this week, and wanted to share everything with you guys! I finish my student teaching on Tuesday. I am taking Wednesday off and on Thursday I am going to spend the day in my new school in the classrooms of the other fifth grade teachers, getting to know the schedule and different programs they use there. On Friday, I'm going to interview the students that will be in my class throughout the day, while the substitute is teaching, so I can get to know the kids and where they are at in fifth grade. On Saturday, I have graduation up at Utah State University! The commencement ceremony starts at 10:30 AM. I'm really excited to graduate! Next Monday I start teaching!
Today at church I was thinking about how blessed I am right now. In a difficult time, I got a job with a long-term contract and a salary. I am graduating from college, and Matt will be able to start again. We have everything we need. I can't explain it. I was overcome with emotion just thinking about everything. Thanks to everyone who has been such a huge support as I've gone through the last few years.

Officially Employed!

It's true, I'm officially employed! I am a fifth grade teacher at Copperview Elementary! On salary and everything! I am such a grown up!

Giving Thanks

This year I have a lot to be thankful for, so making a list would be pretty difficult (and long!). It was my first Thanksgiving with Matt, and we spent Thursday with my side of the family. We went shooting in the morning with my mom and Jeff, and Diet and Myrna. Matt brought along many of his different guns, as did Diet, and we had a lot of fun shooting the clay pigeons and setting up targets. My mom was scared of Matt's big guns, and actually his 30.06 was pretty scary to shoot, even for me!
My mom and Jeff

Matt with his 30.06


On Friday, Matt went fishing with Bill and I spent the day doing crafts with my mom. It was really relaxing and way fun to actually spend time doing this stuff, since I rarely have a spare minute for anything besides school. We made the counting blocks you can see in the picture of the fireplace sitting in the middle of the mantle. I also painted my Christmas letters that Matt got me for my birthday and put my new frames on the wall that I have been wanting to do forever! I am really excited with how everything turned out, and especially can't wait to put the pictures in our new frames.
On Saturday, Matt's family introduced me to the Christmas tree cutting tradition. We went up with Diet and Myrna, and Lance and Kendra, to cut down our own Christmas tree. I tried not to be too picky, but it is harder than it seems! We had a fun time climbing all over the mountain through the snow to find a good tree for our little apartment. We had to hurry so we would be home in time for the Utah vs. BYU game, and we had fun heckling the BYU Fischer family. What a fun game! Of course, we had to watch the Jazz game afterward, and luckily the Jazz didn't suck, otherwise it would have been a very long night!


Our Pepsi Christmas tree- Matt is so excited!

My Christmas letters and picture frames- During the year, the letters will just say "Fischer"

I must admit, my mom made our Pepsi wreath, but I love it!

Our fireplace

I love feeling festive and feeling ready for the Christmas season. I can't wait for the fun things we are planning for the rest of the year!

Also, I am only 7 school days away from being done with my student teaching! I graduate with my bachelor's degree on December 12! I can't believe it is already almost over. I am so excited. I am also interviewing for available jobs right now and have a good chance to get one here really soon! I'll keep you all posted.

Trick-or-Treat!

For Halloween weekend, Matt and I went up to Richmond to spend some time with Matt's family at Randy and Jenny's house! On Friday night, the girls all went to see "This Is It," the new Michael Jackson movie while the boys watched the Jazz game at home! We all were having a tough time controlling ourselves to keep from singing out loud in the theater! It was way fun! On Saturday we woke up and had pumpkin waffles and carved pumpkins! Carving pumpkins with the Fischer family is a big deal, and I wanted to do something easy, but NO, Matt finds the coolest Utah State pattern and I have to do it of course! We had a blast. Jenny carved Michael Jackson, Matt did Tiger Woods, Lance carved Jesus, Kendra did Tinker Bell, and Randy did a guy hanging from a tree, and Matt carved Scooby Doo and a pirate skull for Brad in the biggest pumpkin ever! In the afternoon, Kendra and I went shooting with the boys. It was my first time shooting a shotgun and my shoulder is still sore! It was really fun and I actually hit one of the clay pigeons! That night, Matt and I stayed home and handed out candy and everyone else (8 adults) took Brad and Claire trick-or-treating! We had such a fun weekend and it was so sad to have to come home on Sunday! We love spending time with our family and wish that we could do it more often!



Kendra and I being hard-core






Matt and I with cuties Brad and Claire


Matt had to carve two patterns for Brad on this giant pumpkin, so he had to carve one for himself! Tiger Woods (I think it looks like he has a mustache!)


My champion Utah State pumpkin! It was definitely appreciated in Cache Valley, one guy took a picture of it with his phone and set it as his background


Lance carved Jesus on his pumpkin

Thriller!

On Wednesday last week, I went with Myrna, Kamie and her mom, Jenny and her mom, aunt, and sister, and Kari to see Thriller at Kingsbury Hall! I always go every year with my dad for my birthday, and he and I went the week before, so I got to see it twice! It was amazing both times! One of my friends from high school dances for Odyssey and was in the performance and I was so happy I got to talk to her after the show on Wednesday! This is definitely one of my favorite birthday and Halloween traditions!

Melissa and I after the performance


Myrna, Kamie, Karen and I after the show (Jenny and her fam left before we could get a picture with everyone!)


My birthday was on Thursday and it was a pretty normal day at school, but after school Matt took me to dinner (at Olive Garden of course) and then we went out to my mom's house for cheesecake and family time! It was such a fun birthday!

This is what Matt got me for my birthday! These pictures are the samples from the store, so they aren't the same as mine (since I painted mine a little bit different) and I haven't finished my Christmas letters yet!

Deer Hunting

Last weekend I skipped out on all my other family members and went with Matt and the Fischers to Strawberry for some deer hunting. The boys actually did go hunting (once) and Matt took me up the mountain on the 4-wheeler and showed me how he hunts (it wasn't Edward but... haha just kidding)! Again, no one shot anything, but we had a fun time sitting around the fire, watching football while sitting around the fire, playing games, and relaxing! Tim and Kamie let us stay in their new trailer, and it was so fun! Thanks you guys! Lance and Kendra came up with Diet and Myrna and it was so great! While October is a lonely month for the women, I can see why the boys like it so much!

Matt and I in our sweet orange outfits


It was cold! I wore Matt's coveralls one night to stay warm!


Matt's mustache... I do NOT approve, however, I seem to have no choice!

It Shall Come To Pass...

Thankfully, this week was the END of some things we were ready to finish! Now I know we usually celebrate the beginning of things, and are sad when they end, but this was different. Matt has had the flu for a week, and is still recovering, but was finally able to go back to work! That is the first thing we are grateful to have done (not to mention our gratitude that I did not get the flu even though we still slept in our bed together). Secondly, my first grade experience is over! The kids all gave me hugs yesterday and it was sweet, but inside I was thinking "YES!!!" I couldn't have asked for a better learning experience, and my cooperating teacher ended up giving me good grades, so I will be able to get a job after all. My supervisor is the best! I love her. Definitely got the best deal when we got put together!

Now even though I still haven't gotten my name changed on really anything, and our apartment is always messy, and there is always about ten million things to do, I am definitely one of the happiest people you are going to meet! (It helps having the happiest husband, his good vibes rub off)

Conference Weekend

This weekend has been such a blur! What ever happened to life slowing down on the weekends so you can actually enjoy it? Well, Matt left me for "the hunt" on Friday and I went off to babysit the twins while their daddy ran the St. George marathon. I attempted to watch conference, but the twins weren't having any of that, so we gave up and ran errands on Saturday and went out to visit my mom on Sunday. It was so different to have just the twins, rather than all five kids, and I must say it was pretty nice. After bedtime every night, I settled in for a couple hours of Thank-You-note-writing. Thankfully, I finished those this weekend (except for a few, I ran out of cards- I bought 100 cards.... So many great people)! Matt helped with about four of them last week and that was it for his help. That is one thing I am very grateful to be finished with.



One other thing I am grateful to be nearly finished with is my student teaching block in second grade! Now, it has been a very good learning experience for me, although I am BURNED OUT and come home stressed out just about every single day. Poor Matt has dealt with my mood swings for too long! SEVEN MORE DAYS OF SECOND GRADE!!!!! Then I get a few days off (well to work on my portfolio) and then I start fifth grade on October 19. I cannot wait!!!!

Spooky Corn Mazes

On Friday night, Matt and I went on a triple date to a corn maze out in West Jordan with my mom and Jeff, and Alex and Jason. Good times! We had a bbq at our house first, I made some good better-than-you-know-what cake, and we stuffed ourselves until it was dark enough to go. When we got to the corn maze, there was a bunch of ambulances and fire engines on the road and we were all wondering what happened, and of course, my mom said, "They're here for the corn maze!" Pretty much rolled over in my own grave at that one. We went through the "scary" corn maze first and had a fun time laughing when everyone got scared. I learned something new about my husband... he is a WIMP! Pretty sure he was jumping at everything and he was holding on to me! I was a little disappointed, I have been to better scary corn mazes. Then we went through the normal corn maze and were still trying to scare each other and about half way through, we were all done! So we took the passage to the exit and headed home. It was such a fun night!



Alex and Jason giving the scary guy some lovin'


Matt trying to blend in with the corn...


Matt of course had to jump in front of the camera to be in the picture! Can you say five years old?


Let's be honest, how many of these pictures do I have?


Yay for Halloween and October! My favorite holiday and my favorite month!

Car and Tooth Trouble

Yesterday on my way home from student teaching, my car died on the freeway! Luckily I was able to get to the side of the road before getting smashed by a semi and called the experts, Tim, Matt and Diet, to come save me! We towed the car off the road and bought the parts to fix it but before we could fix the car we had to go... bugle some elk? Yeah it's true, the boys (and Ron) took me with them for their hunting preparation. It was definitely a new experience for me. Mostly I just sat in the truck, but it was still fun to see the guys get all excited for hunting season to start. Matt had to take pictures of the moose (plural is it moose? or moosen? haha):

We got back to the car and changed the fuel filter, and it still wasn't fixed! We had to call a tow, thank you AAA, and go home empty handed. Now today, we found out the fuel pump needs to be replaced and the part won't come in until Monday so that sucks big time!
Also, this week Matt has been complaining about his jaw hurting. At first he said I punched him in the middle of the night, but after a few days we figured it was something else. He went to the dentist today and needs two root canals! We don't have dental insurance so we will have to figure out another solution, this might possibly be pulling the two teeth, or pulling just one tooth for now and waiting on the second.
I guess the phrase, "When it rains, it pours" could apply here. :)

Once an Aggie, ALWAYS an Aggie!

Matt and I got to go to the Utah State football game at the University of Utah last week!! My dad couldn't go, so he gave us his season tickets... On the fourth row... On the 40 yard line... Behind the Utah bench... Okay so it was awesome! Matt and I wore our Aggie blue in the middle of a LOT of red. Every time Utah State did something remotely good, we were on our feet freaking out! We got so many dirty looks from those pesky Utah fans! It was awesome! We joined in with the few other Aggie fans for the Scotsman, and one of the Utah players turned around and gave us a dirty look when we said, "It's another Aggie FIRST DOWN!" It was awesome! Thanks dad for the tickets! And to all you Utah fans out there, you may have won the game....
BUT WE SCORED 17 POINTS ON YOUR HOME FIELD! HAHAHAHA

Wedding Pictures!

Brad and Claire

My sisters and sisters-in-law

The Fischer Family

My mom and my sisters

Matt and his goofy brothers



My girlfriends and I at the temple