All things December

December is a big month at our house. We celebrated my birthday near the beginning of the month. Aaron took me out to lunch and then we had a yummy dinner and my favorite, Gemman Chocolate Cake.

I didn't get any pictures from our "Christmas Eve" Party, which we now do the Saturday before Christmas. Where as this year Christmas Eve was the Saturday before Christmas, we pushed it back to the Saturday before that. It is at my Grandpa Meyer's house every year and is the only tradition that my family still does since my Grandma's death and my parents divorce. I cherish this tradition. The yummy dinner, the songs we sing and music pieces we prepare for each other, my dad reads the Christmas story every year and Grandpa plays Christmas songs on his harmonica. Then we open presents and enjoy being together. I forgot the camera this year, but wanted to mention it.

The picture below was taken on Christmas eve as we were preparing cookies for our Santa plate. The sugar cookies were in the oven and we were getting the frosting ready.
Later on Christmas eve we acted out the nativity. My sister, Lisa and her husband, Brad were able to make it early enough to participate.

The Wise Man

Joseph and Mary

The angel dressed in black visiting Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.

Aaron wearing Mary's pink headband that she put on him and me enjoying watching.

In Brad's family they have a tradition that they read a story every year and so he brought it and shared it with us this year.

Todd and Brooklyn opened their new Christmas outfit on Christmas Eve this year. I couldn't get a good picture of them because all they wanted to do was dance. (It's that Heward blood in them.)

After the kids were asleep. Sarah and Liz arrived and we set up.

Christmas morning, we opened Stockings and a few presents before Church and then saved the rest for after.

It was a good Christmas. This was the first year we have had a home big enough to have family come to us. It was SO much fun having our Aunts and Uncle come. Sarah also played the piano for Aaron and I as we sang in sacrament meeting and it was great to have her be able to do that for us. I can't believe the Christmas has come and gone. We are looking forward to the new year and all that it brings.

The Holidays

We had a lot of fun with Aaron's family for Thanksgiving. This is the classic olives on the fingers picture. Aaron's family plays a lot of Rook. It is the family favorite and a game we pull out at every gathering.
We love Grandpa!!
This is our Christmas tree. We put it up last night only to realize that we didn't have enough lights (many strands didn't work.) We laughed pretty hard as we striped out tree with the only two colors we had and left the top bare. The rest will have to wait until we can get to the store.
This is my favorite part of our house. I love the wood burning fire place in our family room. It has been fun to decorate this room, especially since we spend most of our time here.
This is Todd's version of our life. The log home, the one tree in the yard, only a little grass, the family and our dog buddy.
Last night for family home evening we worked on the food for our Christmas goody plates that we are taking out tonight. We made caramel apples and had a lot of fun smothering them in light and milk chocolate and then sprinkling on candy cane and nuts.
We also made caramel nut pull aparts. Yum! It has been hard for me not to eat them all day.
Santa has also come early to our home and I am loving our new car. It is a cross over- 4 wheel drive, seats 8, but is more like a car than an SUV and I LOVE driving it.
He also brought us our bedroom set. My sister is down sizing and gave us a really good deal on her bedroom set and all the extras (I am in love with the dual control electric mattress pad).