Christmas 2011

Christmas was wonderful this year (as it is every year)!  Paul and I decided to go shopping for each other while we were with each other.  So Christmas Eve morning we set out to find our presents.  We started at Kohl's, where Paul got a new sweater and shirt.  Then we went to the mall where Paul picked up a remote control helicopter.  I was hoping to find some new boots, so after looking around the mall and coming up empty, we went to DSW (my absolute favorite shoe store).  I was in luck.  Boots were 75% off, so I went ahead and got myself two pairs.  Lucky day for me!  Then we drove up to Paul's parents house.  On the way we stopped at the Aggie store so I could get a couple t-shirts and Paul could get himself a sweatshirt.  Then we went to the mall and I got a pair of gloves.  We finally made it to Paul's parents house where the celebrating was in full swing.  It is an annual tradition on Christmas Eve to make mini pizza's.  So we made our mini pizza's, which were delicious.

Then we enjoyed spending time with the nieces and nephews and visiting with everyone else.  Paul and his 5 year old niece have a little joke going where she always tells Paul that he's full of bologna because he likes to joke around A LOT with her.  She brought up a present for him to open.  Boy was Paul surprised when it was some bologna!!!  She was so cute giving it to him.  She sure does love her Uncle Paul.

We stayed the night at Paul's parents and woke up the next morning where I had only one thing on my mind......Kneaders French Toast with Cinnamon syrup.  Paul was such a sweetheart and made breakfast while I finished getting ready.  The french toast was as yummy as I had been dreaming about.  After breakfast, we and Paul's dad went to church with Paul's sister and her husband.  Paul's mom was feeling sick.  I felt so bad for her.  She LOVES Christmas.  She looks forward to it every year, and it was a huge bummer that she had to miss out on some of the fun.  At church, the music was beautiful and the spirit was so strong.  There is just something about attending church on Christmas that made it that much more special.  After church, we went back to Paul's parents and opened our presents.  There weren't many surprises (since we bought our own presents), but I did surprise Paul with a meatloaf pan from As Seen on TV.  Every birthday and Christmas he gets an As Seen on TV present.  He loves them!  It just wouldn't be Christmas without one.  After we opened presents, Paul's brothers and sisters started to arrive.  We had french dip sandwiches and then began opening the presents from each other.  It was great to spend time with everyone!

That night we went to my sister's house and got to see my Dad and Carma, along with our other niece and nephew.  They were so excited to show us what Santa brought.  We played with all their toys and it was so nice to be able to see them on Christmas as well.

Overall, Christmas was wonderful.  I am truly grateful for such wonderful families that live close by and that we are able to spend time with.  I am so thankful for the birth of our Savior and the opportunity to celebrate His life, not only on Christmas, but every day of the year.  Merry Christmas everyone!!

Gingerbread Houses

 We went to our friend's house last night to make Gingerbread Houses.  These are the same wonderful friends we carved pumpkins with on Halloween.  There were so many different candies to choose from.

Paul and I wanted to make a two story house, but after it fell down, we decided to go with two roofs instead.  I think it turned out pretty cute.  Looks yummy, right?????

Of course there was a lot of eating of the candy to go along with the decorating!


We also read from The Gratitude Challenge in the Ensign and we all said the following things we were grateful for:

1.  Physical ability you are grateful for.
2.  Material possession you are grateful for.
3.  Living person you are grateful for.
4.  Deceased person you are grateful for.
5.  Thing in nature you are grateful for.
6.  Thing about today you are grateful for.
7.  Place on earth you are grateful for.
8.  Modern invention you are grateful for.
9.  Food you are grateful for.
10.  Thing about the gospel you are grateful for.


The Gratitude Challenge actually asks you to list 10 of each item you are grateful for, but in the interest of time, we each just selected one.  It would actually be very easy to answer each question with 10 things.  Paul and I feel truly blessed and we have much to be thankful for.

Paul just wanted to show our heads with the house.  He's such a goofball! :)

All 5 of the gingerbread houses.  They were each very different, but all incredible!!!

Christmas Visit from Grandma

My beautiful, wonderful Grandma came and visited this weekend.  We were able to spend a few hours with her.  She is such a sweetheart.  We used to make flowers out of tissue when we were little and she taught my niece how to do it too (that's what you see in her hands).  When she's finished making the flower, she colors the tips with lipstick and then sprays a little perfume on it.  My niece loved it, just like we did when we were her age!

The finished product

Unique Opportunity

Last week for Mutual, we took the youth to tour the Offices of the 1st Presidency.  What an amazing experience!  We got to see the board rooms where they sit and meet.  We even got to see the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson's office.  We got to touch the chair where he sits.  There was such an amazing spirit in that room.  It was an incredible opportunity and I am so grateful we got to experience it.

This is me and Paul standing in the board room next to President Monson's Office.

After the tour, we took the youth to see the lights at Temple Square.  They love to do this every year and they had a great time!  The lights are always beautiful. Paul and I are so lucky to be able to serve in our callings with the youth.

An Idaho Christmas

 We went to Idaho this weekend to celebrate Christmas with my family.  What a fun time we had!  We went bowling and there were prizes for top scoring team, top scoring bowler and lowest scoring bowler.

Crossing our fingers that we'll win top scoring team.

Paul took home top scorer and won himself this awesome swirly straw cup.  He drank out of it all weekend. I guess he didn't want anyone to forget that he trashed them in bowling!

The whole fam

After bowling, we went back to Dad and Carma's house to have dinner and open presents.  We had a nice surprise when my Aunt Deena and Uncle Dale came to say hi.  I love those guys!!!  Best aunt and uncle!  We ate a delicious dinner of ham, rolls, yummy potatoes, mandarin orange salad, cookies, pie, chocolate covered cinnamon bears, peppermint bark, and so much more.  It was sooooo good.  Then it was time to get down to business and open some presents!

Paul got this stocking full of Snickers and Reese's Peanut Butter cups.  He proceeded to pull out almost every single piece of candy and make us take pictures of each one.  I was laughing so hard!  He finally got to the bottom of his stocking and the rest of us could open our presents. :)

I'm loving my new Nook and was so excited to get a gift card to Barnes & Noble so I could buy some more.

After we opened presents, my niece discovered we would be spending the night.  She was so excited to have a "sleepover" and wanted to do all kinds of girly things.  We started with painting our nails.  She painted mine.

Not bad for a 5 year old, right?  I don't think red is the best color.  It kind of looks like I'm dripping blood from my fingers. :)

I tried to get this little guy to smile, but I guess he was going for a GQ look.

We also played a loud game of Wackie 6's and snacked some more.

The next morning we had a big breakfast and then my niece's favorite part about having sleepover's.  She gets to play with my makeup.  I have 3 different palette's with 88 different colors in each of them, so that means 264 colors to choose from.  When we usually have sleepover's at my house, I let her choose any color she wants, because I know she'll take a shower when she gets home and wash it all off.  Since she would be wearing this makeup for the rest of the day, we went for subtle.  Light pink eye shadow, glittery blush and just light lip gloss.  Pretty little girl. :)

Unfortunately, the weekend had to come to an end and it was way too short!  I loved being able to see my family and spend time with them.  We'll be spending Christmas day with Paul's family and are looking forward to that.

For the Love of Baking

 On Cyber Monday, I got a screaming deal on a Kitchenaid Mixer.  I've been dying to get one, so when it finally showed up on my doorstep, I couldn't wait to use it.  We are headed to Idaho this weekend to celebrate Christmas with my family.  I decided to make these little beauties.......

White chocolate gingerbread cookies

Picture courtesy of www.culinaryconcotionsbypeabody.com

and these......

Hot cocoa cookies

Picture courtesy of www.pipandebby.com

Holy Yumminess!  They were every bit as delicious as they look.  I always thought I didn't like to bake......now I realize I just didn't have the time to bake.  I spent all day Friday just baking away and I had the best day ever!  I love discovering new recipes and trying them.  I now consider myself a full fledged baker and can't wait for my next day of trying out new recipes.

WICKED!!!!

I am so excited!!!  We bought tickets to Wicked last night.  Wahoo!!!  Now we just have to wait until August 2012 to actually see it.  Can Not Wait!!