december was awesome

I'm positive all of my blog posts sound the same.  We did this and then this and it was awesome.  Sound familiar?  Sorry my writing is so predictable, cheesy and on the level of a 5th grader.  And on that note...

December was busy.  Several evenings we drove the kids to sleep while looking at lights.  We held a few different "craft nights" where the kids threw paper and string everywhere while James and I pieced together ornaments or decorations. We listened to Christmas music through all the chaos.  Awesome.

 

We spent a weekend in Draper with James's family.  We rode the front runner to Salt Lake and walked around Temple Square.  Luckily it wasn't super cold yet and so it was enjoyable.  Porter had a lot of fun playing with his cousins who he asks about frequently.  No pictures - I forgot the camera!

My parents came for Christmas and okay seriously, it was awesome!  It snowed the whole week of Christmas.  We watched movies, drank hot chocolate, played games, and ate a ton.  I made a huge platter of appetizers for Christmas eve and then a turkey dinner on Christmas day.  On Christmas Eve in the middle of a blizzard we drove to Hardware Ranch - a little farm for the elk in the area.  It was FREEZING!  The second we got out of the car, I started to complain.  And by the time the sleigh ride was over I couldn't feel my legs or toes.

 

we didn't have a sled so James improvised - the kids did not like it.  Can you tell?

Christmas Eve we opened pajamas and a griddle for Christmas morning breakfast!  My parents were surprised they got jammies - if you come to my house for Christmas, you better believe you're getting jammies!

Christmas morning was wonderful.  James and I made a huge breakfast which we had to eat before we opened presents.  It's a tradition from James's family which at first I hated and kept trying to convince him we didn't have to do it.  But I REALLY enjoyed it this Christmas morning so I guess we'll keep it up. :)

And then we opened presents!  James surprised me with a keyboard - which I've been talking about for a few years.  He rocks. 

A few days after Christmas we drove to St. George for New Year's.  It was nice to spend a lot of time with my parents since we see so little of them throughout the year.

  I'm stoked for the new year!  My older brother is getting married in 6 weeks.  And I have a long list of goals that I'm determined to accomplish this year.  Ya know the normal ones - lose weight, exercise more, and a new one - learn how to french braid my own hair!