CHRISTMAS VAC-A

We had a wonderful holiday season and we were so blessed to be able to spend time with family. We went to Nate's parents in Oklahoma for the majority of the Holiday season. We were also lucky enough to drive down to Texas for four days to visit Britt and her family. My parents were even there for a few days. It was great to see them since we haven't seen them since they left for their mission in April.

Christmas started a little early for us. Nate and I decided to open our presents from one another before we left for Oklahoma. Nate totally spoiled me as usual and gave me some amazing gifts. Just to name a few: cricket cartridges, clothes, boots and movies. Thanks babe!!

Christmas morning at the Hartsocks. Man are we looking fabulous. Don't ya think?

New ornaments from Leslie....love them!!

Leslie sporting a beautiful snowflake necklace she gave all the sister-in-laws

Pretty snappy shirt Dan!!

Jake will be fighting off the chicks smelling great with his new cologne

Jo with her new "black boy" earings

A few days before Christmas we started mass producing cupcakes. We made them for a dinner to be served on Christmas day to less fortunate families. We made about 350 chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. We had a great time making and decorating them together.

On Christmas day we headed to the Church of Christ to serve dinner to the less fortunate. It was a special experience and helped us to think of others and remember our Savior. It was awesome to see how grateful the people were as we served them dinner. This is what Christmas is all about and I'm so glad that Leslie signed us up to help do this.

Serving dinner on Christmas Day

Then it was off to Texas to visit Britt and Rod and their four beautiful children and my parents.

The kids got a tramp for Christmas. They had a blast jumping on it with us and wanted to play out on it for hours.

Sisters

Marley

Azzy

The Twins: Zareya and Z

Hanging with my girls

Me and Azzy

Nate and his buddy Z

I love these babies. They are so fun!!

We had so much fun in Texas and I was sad to leave my little nieces and nephew. We had a blast playing with them and wished that we lived closer to them. I admire my sister and all the hard work that you does. It is a lot of work taking care of 4 little kids. Thanks for letting us visit Britt and Rod!!

I had one last visit to make in Texas. My trainer Dory now lives about an hour from my sisters house with her husband and baby boy Alexander. I hadn't seen her in 5 years so it was great to catch up and finally see one another.

As you can see we had a busy but wonderful Christmas vacation. We had an amazing time going home to Oklahoma. Nate loves to go home and doesn't get to do it very often. Thank you for making our stay so fun David and Leslie and for flying us home for Christmas. We love you!!

Winter is HERE!!

This is November 9. It took me a little while to get this post up. This is in our backyard and all the snow that you see here came in one day. It started snowing at about 6 am and didn't stop until 9 pm. It snowed about 15 inches in just that one day. It was crazy. School was let out early so we decided to play in the snow. We had a lot of fun.

We aren't really sure what this little creature was suppose to be but we had fun making it.

Birthday Follow Up

I decided to post some pictures from Nate's Birthday. I think that he had a fun busy day......
Here is what all went down.

I had a few volleyball girls help me to decorate Nate's classroom as a suprise for his Birthday.

These may just be our 2 favorite people in Hulett. They are Mya and Ashlynn. They really love Nate and had to make him a cake for his Birthday. They call him Mr. Hartsocker. It is so cute.

Hope you had an amazing day Nate!!

Birthday Boy

It is Nate's birthday today. Big 28!! I thought that I would write a little ode to him since he is such a great guy and husband. Happy Birthday babe!! You are the best.

50 REASONS WHY NATE IS SO GREAT

1. He loves me regardless of what I do or look like

2. He is happy all the time

3. He has the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen

4. Everyone loves him

5. He may be 28 but we all know he is just a kid

6. He is a great teacher and loves doing it

7. He loves and accepts everyone

8. He hates camping (so do I)

9. He is always positive

10. He tells me he loves me everyday

11. He has a great family that we have so much fun with

12. He loves the Lord

13. He makes me laugh when I want to cry

14. He loves to play games

15. Simple things make him happy

16. He loves sports

17. He like to say mmmm hhyellow to everyone and it cracks me up!!

18. He likes to eat

19. He is a great cook (better than me)

20. He loves my family

21. He cares more about my happiness than his own

22. He is serious about 20% of the time, the other 80% he joking

23. He is a great basketball player

24. He looks amazing in a pair of sweats or basketball shorts (which is a good things because its what you will find him wearing most of the time)

25. He would do anything for me

26. He plays games with Nan by candlelight

27. He is sooo tickleish

28. He can make anyone laugh, and loves to do it

29. He is smart

30. He speaks Spanish

31. He served a mission

32. He supports me in whatever I do

33. He cooks dinner most of the time

34. He took me to the temple to be married for time and all eternity

35. He lives life to the fullest

36. He is perfect for me

37. There is never a dull moment when he's around

38. He does things that I want to do, even when he doesn't want to

39. He trys to be a handyman

40. He adores me

41. He is always himself, what you see is what you get

42. He works hard

43. My family loves him

44. We have fun together even we aren't doing anything

45. He helps me see the sun on cloudy days

46. I get him forever

47. He makes me want to be a better person and wife

48. He lets me take naps

49. He loves the sun and the ocean

50. He has sweet kisses

Love,

Melissa

2 Year Anniversary

Today Nate and I have been married 2 years. We celebrated it yesterday by going to a little town in South Dakota called Deadwood. We went to an old car show and went to a buffet with crab legs. (Our favorite) We had a wonderful day together. It seems crazy to think that 2 years has already come and gone in our marriage, but at the same time I feel like I've known Nate forever. I have an amazing husband that makes me laugh and smile everyday. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father blessed me to find him. Thanks for being the perfect husband for me Nate.


I love these beautiful flowers Nate suprised me with

On our way to Deadwood

Love that crooked smile

This was one of my favorite cars we saw as we walked around

Just finishing up our crab legs. Yum!!!

The streets of Deadwood. There were chairs lined up for miles

in anticipation for a concert.

Mount Rushmore

We took a little adventure to Mount Rushmore yesterday. It is about 2 and a half hours from our house. We went with our friends Jennilee and Jared Hardman. It was awesome to go to the memorial and see how the monument was made. It took over 14 years to carve the mountain. Gutzon Borglum was the engineer and designer of the monument. He built it on a small scale and then transformed it into the grand scale of carving into the mountain. We had a great time and enjoyed some good laughs.