Christmas break was wonderful this year. It was one of my favorites! Being home for every other Christmas instead of every year has really made me appreciate being home with everyone even more! This year everyone came home on different days. Ally came home first & it was so fun to see her & hear her stories of living in Hawaii! It doesn't sound like much has changed there! We went to Glendale Glitters with Ally the 1st weekend she was here. It was fun to see the lights, look in the little shops, and watch the dances.

Melissa, Sam, & Jenna were the next to come! They spent the 1st night at our house and we had so much fun with them! Jenna had called while they were driving and said she had 2 pennies that she wanted to buy something with but the store they had gone to didn't have anything for 2 pennies. Ally and I set up a little store for her to buy things at. We found some random items including a doll pillow (pad), lotion, and some toys. Jenna was so excited when she saw the shop and was able to buy everything with the hug special.. haha!!

On my dad's birthday, the 21st, we went hiking at Thunderbird Mountain. The weather was perfect & Melis, Ally, & I hiked up and then ran down the mountain. Then we decided to run up to meet everyone else & I realized how much I need to start running again!! We got lunch at Pei Wei & then went to see the new Star Wars movie. Cody's company rented out a theater for clients & family, so it was fun to see the movie with all the boys. Nate was so happy & had the biggest smile the whole time, he had been so excited to see it!

Brittany & Matt arrived next! We had a big dinner with everyone & my mom made her delicious homeade donuts. It was so nice all being together!!! I love all my sisters so much & when we are all together it's the best! It's so fun having all the brother-in-laws & how they talk about us girls getting so excited over things! And of course my parents are the best!

My grandma Donna, Uncle Don, & Aunt Kathy all came for Christmas too & it was really fun to get to spend time & visit with them!

The next day was Christmas Eve & Britt's birthday!! First, we went shopping at Last Chance & everyone got some great deals. It was surprisingly uncrowded there, we pretty much had the dressing room to ourselves which never happens at Last Chance. Then the guys went to get burgers & play golf & the girls went to Cheesecake Factory for Britt's b-day lunch! We always get the same meals there, either Stuffed Chicken Tortilla's or Chicken Madeira. For once we switched it up & ordered both of those dishes but also a few new things. After lunch we spent more time with everyone & then had a big Christmas Eve dinner together. Then we had our Christmas Eve program. We all got in costumes & my dad read the Nativity story while we acted it out. Then the boys played songs on the piano & Jenna sang a few songs. I love my nephews & niece so much, they are the sweetest, cutest kids & make everything so fun! Then, we each opened up our pajamas and took pictures. Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year, I love everything about it, especially our program at night.

Next, we wrapped presents, stuffed stockings, & got everything ready. Then Britt, Matt, & Ally came to our house to have a sleepover. We stayed up for a little & then crashed. Christmas morning, we got up at 5:45am and headed to Brooke & Cody's with their surprise present for the boys, a puppy!!!!! It was so cute seeing them open up the box with the puppy in it & look so shocked & happy!!! Then we went in the pantry and brought out one of our presents, another puppy!!! Nate had surprised me and let me get one of their puppy's brothers! (more on that later).

Then we headed to my parent's house to open presents with everyone else! It was so cute seeing Jenna open her presents & seeing the little presents she had picked out herself for melissa and sam. (breast pads for melis, haha, and a jumprope for sam). Nate and I had pretty much picked out our own presents, but I surprised him with some sunglasses and a sweater, both things he loves, and he surprised me with the new Cinderella dvd which I loved! It was fun holding our cute little puppy while opening presents!!!

Nate & I headed to our house to get ready for Christmas brunch! We made lemon poppyseed pancakes, potato hash, & bacon. It was so fun having everyone over & all being together! After brunch, we relaxed awhile & played some tennis. Then we had a big Christmas dinner over at Brooke & Cody's. We seriously ate the best food over the break! After dinner, we played some of the new games everyone had gotten, including Pie Face, which was a hit!

The day after Christmas, Sam, Melis, & Jenna left, sad! In the evening, mom, Brooke, Britt, Ally, & I went to see the Nutcracker & the guys got wings, watched a game, and went in the hot tub at Brooke & Cody's. It was so fun seeing the Nutcracker together, we had seats that were really close so we had a great view! They had really put a lot of money into the ballet & you could tell, it was amazing!!!

It was such a fun Christmas, I loved everything about it! It is always so sad for me when Christmas is over though!!!




New Years

Nate's parents and sister Meagan came to visit us for New Years! They came on New Years Eve and we had such a fun night. My mom, dad, Brooke, and Cody all came over and we had cheese and chocolate fondue! I think we will have to make fondue a New Years Eve tradition! We had bread and vegetables to dip in the cheese fondues and fruit and peanut butter cookie bites to dip in the chocolate! We also drank about 10 bottles of martinelli!!! We watched a movie to stay up until midnight and did some sparklers!!! Then we all crashed!!!

On New Years Day, we spent the day relaxing, watching movies, playing with Blitzen, & Nate & his dad did some house projects. It was nice to have a day to just relax! We were so glad that Nate's parents & Meagan could come for a visit!